After a few fog- and smoke-free days, it’s disappointing to see smoke from California wildfires returning this week. On a totally unrelated matter, this morning I met a former “bus riding buddy” who lamented that he is unable to visit relatives since the First Nations reserve shut down entrance to all non-residents.
I heartily applaud the reserve administration for dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 and I sympathize with those folks in the Western United States regarding the horrendous fires in their states. While those things are out of human control, how we react to life’s injustices is not. I received this on Facebook this morning and I believe it’s worth passing on.
“A man saw a snake being burned to death and decided to take it out of the fire. When he did, the snake bit him causing excruciating pain. The man dropped the snake, and the reptile fell right back into the fire.
“So, the man looked around and found a metal pole and used it to take the snake out of the fire, saving its life.
“Someone who was watching approached the man and said: ‘That snake bit you. Why are you still trying to save it?’
“The man replied: ‘The nature of the snake is to bite, but that's not going to change my nature, which is to help.’
“Do not change your nature simply because someone harms you. Do not lose your good heart, but learn to take precautions.” (Diane Johnson)
It’s no secret that most of us struggle these ways with the isolation brought about by global health issues. We can’t control that, but by God’s grace we can continue to enjoy God’s peace while sharing His love with others.
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2
