I miss them. The weird spiky ridges on their backs and pointy things on their heads were so cool, prehistoric looking. I remember as a kid finding horny toads in my uncle’s potato patch and watching them instead of digging potatoes. (I was being a kid. I didn’t know anything about digging potatoes anyway.)

They must have gone the way of the dinosaur. I haven’t seen any in years, no decades. Maybe because it’s been that long since I’ve been in a potato patch. Sure would like to show my kids what fascinated me as a kid.

Betcha can’t quit looking at the picture. They’re cool looking, aren’t they?

I was reminded of horny toads last evening when I found another weird looking creature in my yard. Rudyard Kipling wrote a satire of how this weird creature came to be so weird. It was titled “The Beginning of the Armadillos” They are funny looking and even funnier behaving.

Many wild creatures make messes of yards and domestic feed stores. We usually off them, especially the nasty rat-looking possums. (And I live on Possum Walk Possum Ranch.) But this guy was cute, so we helped him out of the back yard. The crazy thing must be blind. He ran full speed into poles and fences knocking himself nearly loopy. Once he got out of the yard he hightailed it to the woods like a little armored truck speeding down a freeway. (We kept the dogs penned.)

I found another pole climbing creature in my camera phone. This one is wild too—a daring (and dashing if a mother might add)He man working at a Christian camp and a worship leader-servant of the Most High God. He’s a wild man and the greatest son!

Another wild thing: Why is it if you plan a sabbatical, a rest from some ministry demands, other ministry demands fill the spot? Nevertheless, it has been good to have the change of pace so far during this month’s sabbatical from pastoring the church. Soon I’ll get back to Acts with the ladies and other stuff. July is nearly over and so will be the sabbatical.

Quick, do you know where I can find a horny toad?

Searching for wild things,

Robin

Quote from Master Dogway of Kung Fu Panda movie: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it the present.”

Friends,

Yuk. Trimming is not my favorite; it hurts. Looking at my roses, I know they will produce more beautiful sweet smelling roses if I trim them. But as a not-so-dedicated gardener, I don’t like the pain involved in the cutting away for new growth. Those thorns poke deadly holes even through leather gloves. I end up bleeding and scratched from the whole ordeal. Not something I look forward to doing. Yet, in understanding the benefits of the beauty to come, and the health of the rose bush, I commit to…just do it.

This brings me to the kids. Why, I can send them in to sacrifice their blood to the rose. Good idea, but they are not willing. I sense the need for trimming up some behavior in the kids. Now I wouldn’t really sacrifice the kids to the rose, well… maybe I would. Not relishing the trouble and discomfort of disciplining the kids, I find laughing and playing with them, enjoying their presence, much more preferable. But disobedience and misbehavior needs cutting out of the kids if they are to have an enjoyable presence and healthy life. So, when it comes to trimming kids, I don’t like it; I just do it.

Understanding what it feels like to do the trimming and the vision of the beauty, health, and sweet aromatic presence to come, I can relate somewhat to God’s vision of me as I need so much trimming of my life. The pain and discomfort of being the trim-ee is quite different than that of the trim-er. As a trim-ee, I don’t always see the big picture. I don’t know everything, as humbling as that is to admit. Like me, I am sure the rose and the kids don’t necessarily enjoy the process. The rose obviously lashes back with thorny attacks, and the kids don’t always willingly submit either. Prayerfully and in tears, I choose to submit to the sharp double-edged sword of God’s Word, and be comforted by His Spirit as I abide in Jesus. Yuk, trimming hurts; but God is making me healthy, beautiful and sweet smelling. I hope someone enjoys this work of His.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8

Blessings,

Robin