Well, Summer’s Almost Over.

Well, summer’s almost over. August presented us with pretty big weather variations on what an August day is supposed to be – some, way too hot and humid, some, way too rainy, and some, rather fall-like chilly. We hope everyone scheduled their August event on one of the perfect days.
This is being written on a morning when I have just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime sight outside my second-floor window: a red fox came trotting around the corner on our lawn coming to a halt about three feet from a surprised groundhog. Groundhog stiffened into a very hostile pose. As if to go around this, red fox started to the right. Groundhog jumped at it. Red fox made a move to the left. Groundhog rushed at it a few inches. Suddenly, groundhog rushed aggressively at the fox who retreated about six feet. Then, slowly, step by step, red fox increased the distance to about ten feet while groundhog crouched, watching. Suddenly, groundhog turned and ran as fast as it could go toward the brushy field. Fox stood there, seemingly amazed, and then trotted off in the opposite direction.
We humans, upon witnessing unique animal behavior, tend to exercise anthropomorphism with these experiences. As they parted, was fox smiling? relieved? Did groundhog suddenly lose its nerve? Did one of them say something? Or, did God just give us a window on how we humans sometimes foolishly act?
Surprise encounters will often leave us humans momentarily disarmed and at a loss for words. While, on the human level, meetings such as we just witnessed are seldom met with overt hostility, they do sometimes present opportunities. Of course, if we have chanced upon someone we know, our greeting will be filled with friendship and love. If, on the other hand, it’s a total stranger, the meeting is going to involve a momentary judgment of the other person, followed by an appropriate greeting. And, once in a while, that greeting will evolve into a conversation. It’s during these moments that we should remember that we are children of God. How many friendships have started with speaking to a stranger? And if a whole conversation develops, we might sense a need for encouragement, or comfort, or even an invitation to worship. Something we, as believing Christians, can give. Or, we can lose our nerve….
For all of us, there are varying degrees of boldness. We’re all different in our fear of rejection or of offending vs. our enthusiasm to share the Good News. Let’s just pray that our desire to share greatly exceeds all of our fears.
Oh, by the way, have a great September! Virginia                                                                                                                                              “It is written: ‘I believed, therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13