Squirrel Devils

This week was the opening weekend of firearm deer season here in Michigan. I love hunting deer, but I love being out in the woods more. I love the quiet, the breeze blowing through the leaves that are still left on the trees. It is so peaceful out there.

There are a few things I do NOT like in the woods. I do NOT like squirrels and I do NOT like chipmunks. In fact I am almost to the point where I can say that it would bring me great pleasure to fire upon these noisy, ruthless, animals. (I would pile their carcasses high as a warning to other squirrels in the area.)

When God created man life was like a woods with no squirrels. It was perfect and peaceful. Then one day, a squirrel comes and deceives man with his cuddly looks and puffy tail. Then, when man least expected it the squirrel transforms into a snake and tells man to eat the fruit. (My version of the deception story was lost in translation I'm sure.)

I was in my blind on Friday morning when the squirrels started to make some noise. Now these aren't just your run of the mill squirrels, these are the biggest squirrels you have ever seen. They looked like they actually ate other squirrels to get as big as they were. The thing I hate most about squirrels is that when squirrels are walking through leaves on the ground they can sound just like a deer coming your way (at least that is what mind mind tells me). I get distracted and start looking around for a deer, but what I end up seeing is an over weight squirrel that apparently hasn't gotten enough attention in it life so it has to make a bunch of noise so it gets mine. I was looking at one of these squirrels when I turned my head and there in front of me about 25 to 3o yards away was a buck and 3 doe. They saw me and took off. I was so made I almost introduces that squirrel to “me little friend” (insert Scare Face voice here).

Truthfully, we all know how life goes. We are rolling along in life and everything seems to be going great. It is peaceful and enjoyable when all of a sudden, the squirrels of life come and start making noise. We get distracted by the noise they make and we start missing the amazing things that God has coming our way. We listen to the noise instead of focusing on the still small sound of God's voice.

See, deer rarely make a lot of noise. They usually come in very quietly and before you realize it they are right in front of you. But, if you get distracted by the squirrels you will be looking all over the forest instead of listening to the stillness.

Take some time today and just be silent. Turn off the music or TV and just be still and listen. Enjoy the silence. Let it be the best time of your day. You never know, maybe God has something standing right in front of you but you are so surrounded by noise that you aren't able to see it.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10