Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Snakes?

What's with all the snake encounters I keep hearing about? I decided to check out a review of the "Snakes on a Plane" movie, and since it didn't seem fitting for viewing, I'm going to be skipping it. I did, however, have a snake encounter of my own.

My wife, three of my daughters, and I ventured down the Big Shoals trail in northern Florida yesterday. Since it follows the Suwannee River, I thought about the possibility of watching for snakes. I had injured my leg running, so it was hard for me to walk as quickly as they wanted to go, so I allowed my wife and one of my daughters to march ahead. The path seemed clear enough, so I thought it would be safe ... until I heard a rattling noise.

They had stepped right over the top of a rattlesnake! I saw it just in time to leap over it. I spun around and yelled at my other daughters to halt. After grabbing the longest stick within range, I guided the pygmy rattler well off to the side before I let my girls proceed.

Well, it was time for the old man to lead the way, but after a couple of miles, I was going pretty slowly, so my youngest said she was capable of watching for snakes, and she scrambled out in front. Again, it all looked clear, so I allowed it, but again, she walked within six inches of another rattler! I swept it away with my stick and decided it was time to head back, with me in the lead, no matter how long it took.

On the way back, I spotted a king snake--no danger in that, but still interesting to see three snakes on the path in just three miles. No telling how many there must have been out in the forest.

So what's the lesson? I guess it's pretty simple. Men, watch out for snakes. Guard your family. And thank God that He watches over your family if something keeps you from watching over them yourself.

1 comment:

Pam Halter said...

Feel a little like Indiana Jones? :) Yes indeed, thank the Lord for His protection ~ in the ways we can see and the ways we can't.