The Nocturnal Swarm

The Nocturnal Swarm August 30, 2010

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The parsonage where we live sits on 6 acres surrounded by farmland. We have a large bird feeder on the back patio just outside the kitchen window. It's more for the little birds so I keep it stocked with black oil sunflower seeds. Unfortunately. I found that chipmunks and squirrels will cross acres of open land for such a tempting, easy meal. But, as the superior species, I have cleverly outsmarted them! By wrapping aluminum flashing around the sturdy feeder post I keep them from climbing the pole. I don't mind them eating the seed that falls to the ground. They are my clean-up crew -- that is, until the skunks arrive at night! I assumed that we have all come to an uneasy peace of sorts.




Early this summer I found that the birds were rapidly cleaning out the feeder. It got pretty expensive but I figured they were busy feeding young and needed more energy. Late one night Richard heard some commotion out back and turned on the light to see what was going on. Imagine his surprise at finding four raccoons swarming all over the feeder! A mother had brought her three kits to enjoy an easy meal. He snapped these photos of the feeding frenzy. No wonder our seed budget was on the rise!

It was an illustration of the story Jesus told in Luke 11:24-26:

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."

Here I thought I was so clever foiling the squirrels and chipmunks but had completely overlooked the larger, bolder wildlife. In much the same way, we consider ourselves impervious to sin just because we've overcome some temptation in the past. We become content with our tidy little spiritual accomplishments, never suspecting or preparing for possible future onslaughts. When a swarm of adversities hit us, we are picked clean by the evil one! And so our "final condition is worse than the first", just like my empty bird feeder. Our lack of preparation and watchfulness costs us dearly!

In verse 23, just before Jesus told this story, He reminded the crowds, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."

There's only one way we can be properly prepared for the 'hungry mouths' of life that would leave us overwhelmed and empty. We must allow Jesus and His Word to fill our hearts!

Love as always, Elaine (filling the feeder one more time)