Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
Song of Solomon 2:15
My mom made a brazen decision.
She opted to leave her 17 year old and 18 year old sons home alone for the weekend. She was assured we wouldn’t throw a raging party. I had got in trouble for my “social gathering” I hosted the year before.
So with 3 days and 4 bedrooms left to ourselves my brother, Craig, and I set out for a thrilling weekend as bachelors. Which really just meant lots of frozen pizza and drive through dinners.
The first night went without a hiccup. It was the second night where hell seemingly broke loose.
About 1 am while I was fast asleep, my older brother slips quietly down to my basement bedroom like a ninja. In what could only be described as a loud whisper, I hear “Jeff”. Startled by the harsh quiet tone, I sort of open one eye. Again, Craig hits me with the hard whisper, “Jeff”.
Finally, slightly stirred from my slumber. Craig tells me the reason for his late night intrusion. “Jeff, someone is stealing my car, I can hear them.”
With my mom gone, Craig as the elder son, took the rights of the oldest to claim mom’s parking spot up near the garage.
Finally, now alert enough to understand his fear, we peer through the tiny square shaped basement window only to see the rear tire of the 1989 Pontiac Sunbird. What our eyes could not see, our ears could hear. Something was stirring right outside the window.
Craig with constant bravery allowed me out the door and up the stairs first, baseball bats in hand. And now was we crested the top step which lead straight to the back door, we were about to come face to face with the criminals.
Like a scene from a movie, we slowly open the creaking screen door and step out onto the back porch step…hearts racing, butterflies in the belly and zero plan on what to do with what we would see.
And then, in that moment, we were face to face…with three little raccoons.
It is amazing how often in life we let the little noises create big fears. Now I am not saying there are not big situations and circumstances that we come face to face with. But the truth is we so often let the little raccoons create thieves of our peace, our joy and our ability to be content. When the truth is often revealed of our fears what we find is there was nothing to fear to begin with.
Here is how you face the fear:
1) see the raccoons for just raccoons. Yeah, they eat your trash, but they aren’t stealing your car. Don’t make bigger to do’s of the little things.
2) be truthful with yourself. The fear of the unknown often leads us to create the narrative of the worst case possible. At 1 am in the night, the greater likelihood was exactly what we found, raccoons in the trash. Tell yourself the truth. Be honest about the situation within the proper context.
3) don’t just listen to the noise. The noises of life will always lead you to believe raccoons can steal your car. If you hear fear, face the fear with facts and what you know is true. Don’t chase the raccoons in your mind. Pursue truth. Even if the truth is the worst case scenario, at least then you know and create a plan on how to deal with the facts.
We all have raccoons that threaten our peace. Odds are they are not stealing your car, so don’t let them take your peace either.
