An unwelcome visitor

I had an unwelcome visitor in my garden this morning. No bigger than a chipmunk, this baby bunny was more interested in my weeds than my tomatoes. Perhaps he wanted to nibble on the companion flowers, supposedly a repellent for rodents, perhaps not so much for rabbits.

My presence sent him into a panic, racing back and forth along the fence, looking desperately for an exit point. I would not have hurt the bunny, but he didn’t know that. I am much bigger and stronger than he is, so I could have hurt him; I could have killed him. Instead, I stopped to get a picture and let him catch his breath. Then I lifted an edge of the netting and gave him a way out. I wanted him out of my garden. Eventually, he found his exit and fled to the safety of the hedgerow.

 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” Mark 1:24-25.

Not all predators are satanic evils threatening our existence. Some are cute little bunnies looking for a new place to dine. I thought about letting the bunny stay. If I had, he probably would have died from heart failure by my daily presence. He probably started visiting my garden while I was away. Now that I am back and checking on the garden regularly, my presence alone should make the garden a less enjoyable place for the bunny.

Perhaps the Holy Spirit’s presence in us makes our lives a less enjoyable place for ungodly forces to visit.

Perhaps the appearance of the Holy Spirit sends our ungodly thoughts into a panic, racing back and forth along the fence, looking desperately for an exit point. Maybe if we invited the Holy Spirit into our lives daily, the ungodly forces would either die from heart failure or leave us for friendlier and safer spaces.

Once the bunny was gone from the garden, I examined the fence and netting all around the tomatoes. How had he gained entry? What space had I left unguarded? What gap had he wiggled through?

When I discover unwelcome, ungodly thoughts running rampant in my mind, the Holy Spirit can drive them out, but I need to examine my life. Where did these thoughts come from? How did they get in? Was it that trashy movie I watched? Or that godless and depressing book? Is it my insatiable need for entertainment, or my pride and ego?

I need to find the gap, because if that cute little bunny can get inside, tomato stealing chipmunks and squirrels can as well. If little ungodly thoughts find an easy residence in my mind, larger, more dangerous thoughts can as well.

Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life. Luke 21:34.

When I go out tomorrow to check on the garden, I will check carefully for evidence of the bunny’s return. If he has been back, I will recheck the fencing. I have lost too many tomatoes to chipmunks and squirrels in the past.

Have I learned this lesson in my life? How much of my peace and patience and joy and love of others have I lost to unwelcome visitors – worry and insecurity and fear and selfishness?

God is big and scary to these petty concerns, much bigger and stronger than these unwelcome visitors. His presence will send them racing for an exit from your life. His continued presence will keep them out.

 He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. Mark 1:27.

Betsy