“Give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27
He was there…hiding in the relative darkness. The other day my conscience got the best of me. I was sitting on the patio…watching the bird’s flitter and flutter around eating the bird seed I so generously provided for them. It was just about then that I remembered it had been a while since I filled the feeders so I figured it was about time to do the deed. So, I got up and walked over to the feeder in the backyard.
Now this is no ordinary feeder. This is one of those super-duper feeders that are designed to keep the squirrels from eating the bird food…and this one works. It is a rare day indeed when a squirrel gets my expensive as gold black oil sunflower seeds. To fill the hopper, you have to lift it away from the housing. It is not too difficult, but it can be a bit…drumroll…dangerous. When I last attempted to fill the feeder I wasp flew out when I removed the hopper. I figured he was trying to build a nest up and inside but since I am a “live and let live” kind of guy…I let him go. He didn’t mess with me, so I didn’t mess with him. That was then but this was now.
That day, as I reached up to remove the hopper…before it moved an inch…a wasp flew out from inside the feeder and popped me on the hand. Out of pure reflex, the hopper went to the ground and what seed was left, left the hopper. It was a “shoot that thing” moment and then about six of his buddies flew out of the feeder and joined him in swarming the area. It turns out he had gathered reinforcements so I…ran. Well, the hopper was on the ground, the seed was on the ground, and I was just about mad. I carefully took a peek inside and discovered there was a pretty good nest up in the feeder…they had been very busy. They may have won the battle, but the war was mine.
My wife Judy keeps a can of wasp spray in the door of her car just in case some dude tries to mess with her. I went to the car, got the spray, walked back to the nest and let ‘em have it. It was all over in about three seconds. And when the dust settled all the wasps were…stone cold dead. Revenge was so sweet…but I wasn’t done. I took the feeder down, scraped the nest off and laughed with glee as it fell to the driveway. I kept laughing as I stomped it to pieces. Don’t mess with Mr. T or you will pay the price.
In case you are wondering I didn’t and don’t feel any remorse. They got what they deserved. Just ask my right hand…which hurt for several days. Now today’s big truth is not about bird feeders, wasps or sunflower seed. The big truth is to remember that there are often things hiding in the dark…things like wasps and things like Satan. The wasp was just waiting for some dude like me to come along and when I did…bam…he got me. I didn’t know he was there and didn’t know he was coming until he had done his deed.
Now listen, Satan is much more dangerous than a wasp but he is just as tricky…or more so. He often lies away just waiting to pop some innocent (or no so innocent) bystander. And trust me the consequences of falling prey to him are much worse than a wasp bite. So be wise…play it safe. Be sure and invite the Heavenly Father along to fill your feeders or whatever else you do. Regardless, it is always good to have Him along…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 