Henry County Times

A troubled view from the deck

I have written many times

about how much I enjoy sitting

on the deck and watching the

birds and other critters cavort in

the backyard, in the privet and

along Camp Creek. It is general-

ly a peaceful world out there

regardless of whether it is in the

morning or in the evening.

However, there are times when

troubles come to the backyard.

In recent weeks, there have

been coyotes, foxes and bobcats

trolling along the creek bank for-

aging for food or perhaps taking

a look for a place to build a den.

On occasion, they have come up

into our neighborhood for some

reason and have caused some

concern and fear among our

community. The most frequent

time for these visits is usually

early evening or during the wee

hours of the morning. People are

taking greater care to look

around well before they leave

their homes to see if some of

these predators are around.

Those with pets are keeping

them inside or very close at hand

if they go out. We feel fairly safe

in our homes with the regular

McDonough Police driving

through to watch out, but there is

no one to protect us from these

animals that have been

patrolling our streets and back-

yards. There have been those of

us who live along the creek that

have almost felt like we were

being held hostage in our own

homes.

Life can be very similar. We

can feel fairly secure in our own

spirituality, sometimes to the

point that we become smug and

complacent. After all, we are

believers and followers of the

Almighty God, the Creator, He

who can do all things, etc. We

go to church, bible study,

Wednesday night suppers, give

to missions, help out at local

charities all the things we are

supposed to do. We’re happy in

our own little worlds…just you

and God. And that’s okay.

Then the predators begin to

sneak in. Maybe a harmless flir-

tation becomes a little more seri-

ous. Perhaps a book that is read

or a movie that is watched gives

some ideas about alternative

lifestyles that are appealing. A

beloved friend or family mem-

ber (or pet) dies unexpectedly

and we can’t quite grasp a divine

purpose for it. Maybe we begin

to see things in our church or our

church leaders that don’t seem

acceptable. Before we know it,

the predatory creatures of the

spiritual world begin to creep in.

Doubt, hurt, curiosity, question-

ing, anger. All things that, left

alone, can cause your faith to be

chipped away at slowly, but

surely until you are not sure at

all where God stands in your

life. Oh, He is still there, but we

just kinda begin to wonder.

This problem can be two-fold.

One is that it is so easy for all of

us, repeat, all of us to be suscep-

tible to these spiritual pitfalls.

We need to be constantly aware

of their presence and guard our

body, hearts and minds against

falling prey to them. The second

is that we do not become an

agent to cause others to doubt, to

struggle, to fall. This can be

harder than it seems because we

can lose ourselves in our own

spiritual smugness and not real-

ize we are causing others to

stumble. Very much like the

Pharisees.

Just as I enjoy watching the

beauty and the good parts of

God’s creation from my deck, I

have to always keep aware that

there is danger in the beauty. The

hawk occasionally gets the blue-

bird and there is nothing I can do

to stop it. However, I can protect

my heart and my faith if I am

diligent.

And for today my friends, this

has been the gospel according to

Jimmy.

Jimmy Cochran is a resident of

McDonough, a musician, a min-

ister and the author of “Being

God’s” and “Staying God’s,”

both available at Amazon.com.

Being God’s is also available at

Moyes Pharmacy in McDon-

ough.

JIMMY

COCHRAN

Columnist

The Henry County Times

Page 13

May 11, 2016

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ELIGION

Henry County Times - page 13

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