I had an interesting experience last weekend. Saturday was a perfectly gorgeous Fall day and I decided to trim shrubs in the front of my house. I had been listening to an audiobook and feeling very positive and happy just before going out. I was enjoying being outside and feeling great; not even minding the work too badly, when something unexpected happened. Something moved in the mulch beside the shrub I was working on. When I realized it was alive, a worm or something, my first instinct was to whack it with the trimmer. However, after looking more closely, I saw it raise its head and the stark realization hit me; it was a snake.

Now, I have an extreme fear of snakes. I turn my head or close my eyes or even change the station if one is on the television long enough. If someone is talking about a snake, I have to leave or ask them to stop. Just typing the word right now bothers me. This was a small one, but a snake nonetheless.

It was a very quiet Saturday afternoon and I saw no neighbors out, so I went next door and rang the doorbell, but no one was at home. I saw a car parked in front of a neighbor’s house across the street, so I went to their door. I was so happy when Stanley came to the door. He graciously walked across the street and took care of my unwelcome guest using a hoe, and then disposed of it for me.

Then I went back to continue working on the shrubs, but found that I had a choice to make. Would I be able to continue knowing that there could be another one? I began thinking about what the snake represents; Satan, the enemy of our souls. I had been feeling so good when I started; was I going to let this guy prevent me from doing what I knew I needed to do?

I am happy to report that after struggling a bit, I decided I would not be defeated and would get this work done. I even trimmed the end of the house as well, and in less time than I had expected it to take.

There was clearly a lesson for me in this experience. So often, when we are headed in the right direction and doing what we know we need to do, we become distracted, or afraid, or ambivalent, and don’t complete the task. I encourage us all to recognize what is happening and realize that we are God’s child and He has “the hoe.” All we need to do is ask . . .

Are you letting God be your hoe today so that you can live! . . . life to the fullest?