This dragonfly perches on the reeds beside the water, and sprints out when it sees insect prey fly near. A very effective hunting method!
How does prey escape? By diving for cover- or setting a new speed record for the 5 metre dash.
It’s fascinating to watch, less enjoyable for the target…
All Christians face temptation: it’s a fact of life. Broadly speaking, there two types. The most problematic (for me, anyway) are habitual actions and thoughts. Usually taking a long time to establish such patterns, it may also take a long time and a struggle to “win the victory.” I am so glad that God’s heart is compassionate and forgiving! The second type of temptation are the ones that ambush us, darting out to plant thoughts in our brain and spirit. Taking us by surprise, we’re in trouble before we have time to realise our peril.
Today I offer a little life-lesson from the insects of Sussex. If you are cruising along, happy and hungry, and you see a dragonfly (temptation source), then dive for cover- or run like mad!
Good cover? Being in a group of believers, being in a spiritually healthy place, being wrapped up in (urgent) prayer- “Help! Please God, save me!“
Or if it’s a temptation prompting your worst impulses- some TV/Video/internet source, or a noxious person, or a vulnerable situation- get away from the source of the temptation as swiftly as possible. Technology has “OFF” switches. Mobile phones don’t have to be on all the time. Dubious books, magazines, social situations cannot make you interact- if you leave. Rapidly.
When Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) he said “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Avoiding temptation is a critical lesson to learn; and it assumes that we want to be as holy as Jesus (which in our best moments is probably true for us all).
TAKE COVER- OR RUN. You know it makes sense.
The Reflectionary 