Following the Badger

Of late I have become very painfully aware of the hyphenated sins in my life.

These are the 'little' sins that plague, are subdued, then without warning rear up their ugly heads yet once again. Granted, these are part and parcel of the human spirit and we spot them readily in others. Yet when confronted personally, after the initial humiliation, it is time to take action.

We desire victory over self-sins: self-indulgence, self-pity, self-absorption and such like.

These are my personal 'pets'.

Self-sufficiency has seldom been a problem as I am a chronic under-achiever living too often in the Land of Overwhelm. But this is good as it is here that all is learned about the One who is sufficient in all things, who is our sufficiency.

As for the rest, well, there is the battle ground.

In the midst of these days, reading brought one of my Ancient Dead Friends to my rescue.

Bernard of Clarivaux wrote the following during a parallel time in his life:

"...Then I return to the Rock that is refuge for badgers like me, furry with sin."

This from Psalm 104.18 (KJ) Badgers, cranky, skitterish, hoarders. The Septuagint, rather than badger, translates it rabbits. Here too is a great illustration as they so readily get off the path, hopping along in random fashion. Yet again, another translation says it is the hedgehog. Well, they roll themselves into balls, hiding from supposed dangers and fears, trusting their prickles to protect.

I find myself pictured with these creatures. I long for their good sense in 'returning to the Rock' with speed.

Furry with sin or not, that is the one, true place of refuge.

Always