Everything I learned in life, I learned from my Gerbils

Okay, the title is a lie. But I did learn something this week from them... Keep reading...

I had such a great Biblical visual for my kids (and self) this week that I had to share. The kids and I are reading Tell me the Secrets: Treasure for Eternity . Every story ends with a Bible verse(s). A few days ago 1 Peter 5:8,9 was the verse .:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

It happened that the day that we read that verse was the day I brought my sweet baby gerbils home.

I have never had a gerbils before- and they are the sweetest, cutest little guys. They do not bite, nip or scratch. I love them. I also have cats- and while I wondered about the cat/gerbil combo, all my animals have always gotten along. Yes, we once had an accidental death but in the end, everyone finds a way to live together. But Oscar, our 8 month old kitten has different ideas. I have been a bit shocked to discover he is OBSESSED with finding a way to eat my gerbil babies.

Right now they are in my room so I can keep an eye on them (and keep them alive). At night we lock them in our closet and during the wee hours (when Henry likes to visit with me) I find Oscar sitting on our bed and staring at the door. Last night I heard him pawing at the closet door. If someone leaves the door open, he runs in and stares at them until he decides it is time to pounce on their cage. When I carry him out of the room, he looking over my shoulder the whole time, his body taunt, his eyes trained on the gerbils. And while I hate, hate, hate to compare my sweet (black!) kitten to Satan, the comparison is easy  This sleek black killing machine is just waiting for me to let up so he can finally  devour his hapless prey.

Yes, I do walk around like Gollum whispering "murderer"  to him throughout my day : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwyb7lE1Tr8 

And what of the gerbils you ask? Are they emotionally suffering from a cat sitting atop their cage every chance he gets? No, they are not. To be honest, they have yet to notice. They continue in their gerbil activities taking no notice to the lion seeking to devour them. And, in case you are thinking that gerbils must be the stupidest animals on the planet, prepare yourself for my next analogy. Cause I am starting to see that we, humans, are just like gerbils.   The Bible has clearly warned me to be mindful, to be careful, to be watchful. But oh, so often I am spinning along doing my human activities,  not noticing that I am about to fall into some great sin, once again prey to a hungry lion.

I am learning to watch for the stuff in life that leads me to sin- caffeine, alcohol, lack of sleep, sugar, etc and etc... and while none of these things are bad in the of themselves, if I know I am more likely to sin when I imbibe, should I not avoid them?