The Food Chain

We love to watch nature shows as a family. Infact, we like them so much we bought the series by BBC called "Planet Earth" and also "Blue Planet." They are incredibly entertaining, fascinating, awe-inspiring, etc.etc. Basically, we just love them. I'll give a warning though, it is difficult to watch the struggle for survival as the food chain plays its role. As you watch, you pray for the little baby antelope to outrun the predator wolf, or for the sick, old seal to somehow escape the ferocious polar bear. But, that is how it is. The sad reality is that only the strong survive.

My brother and I were talking on Sunday night and he mentioned something he learned in a fireside he had attended. It struck me with great force, especially since we are so ingrossed in these nature shows. He said that the speaker told them to think of Satan as a hungry wolf, and we, ofcourse, as Jesus told us, are the sheep. The wolf is smart, he carefully watches the herd, scanning for the weak, the careless, and the young. Waiting for the "fence-sitters" to stray far enough for an easy catch. The wolf knows his chances are small with the biggest, strongest, or the furthest from him.

I know we've all seen or heard this analogy before, but for some reason it really sunk in this time. I want my family, and MYSELF as well, to be the sheep in the center, far from the danger. To be the sheep that follow the call of the shepherd to safety. I see it so often, especially since Eric works with the youth in our ward, that the weak ones are most often the ones that fall into Satan's grasp. It is devastating to watch them make stupid choices and to envision where the path they are choosing will take them. Equally, it fills us with joy to see the youth who are doing just the opposite. I want to rush to them and bouy them up. I especially feel a strong desire the gather my little ones around me, as a hen gathers her chicks, until they are strong enough to survive. Because in times such as we live in now, it is absolutely true that only the strong will survive. Wo unto those who are at ease in Zion, because now is the time to be fortifying our children, and ourselves with the sheilds of faith, virtue, and righteousness. We must wake up and shake the dust off our feet. For we shall enternally regret our omissions if we do not.

I hope this doesn't sound preachy, for I am writing this to and for myself. As I watch my Judson get nearer and nearer to the age of accountability, I am frightened that I have not instilled enough into him. I am awakened to my duty to open my eyes to the dangerous spiritual predator and to protect my little ones and provide them with the training to make it back home.