Croc Bites
Well, we’re back safe and sound from our ‘big adventure’ in the outback. From the sounds of things, our neighbors had a bigger adventure than we did, since the forested “green belt” behind our house decided to burn itself up. Check my Facebook page for pictures.
And if that wasn’t enough, our kids got together and did a “home makeover” in our absence, involving a lot of yard work, but also a radical transformation of my office, complete with new furniture, new curtains and “junk organization” that I had been putting off for years. The Aussies have an expression for how I felt: Gobsmakered. And I was … totally.
If we had known all this was going on while we were away, we might have been as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but we didn’t, and our Outback Adventure was nothing short of magical. Motorhome life was surprisingly luxurious, possibly spoiling us against all future camping treks. But I have to admit, we breathed a huge sigh of relief when we drove the city bus-sized rig back into its starting place, clean and unscathed (well, mostly).
An underlying theme in the Outback seemed to be, stay alert and be careful. Each day found us tromping thru dry and hot desert, broken by anthills the size of two-story buildings, and (unrelated) fire ants that seemed to have been waiting their whole lives for my arrival.
The landscape was broken occasionally by beautiful billabongs, those places where a dry riverbed makes a twist and starts holding water. They are indeed fantastic places where you just have to stop, and the only thing that would make them better would be if the 4 and 5 METER long crocodiles wouldn’t find them so inviting as well. At one place we stopped, there was a sign that said it was okay to fish, but never EVER get closer than five meters from the water. Seems those Jurassic leftovers can jump out of the water up to three fourths of their body length! We did take a tour on a boat that traveled through dozens of floating crocs. The guide said, “I’m required by law to tell you about our life preservers, but let me add this: NEVER get out of the boat, even if it’s sinking. People have swum in this water, but never for more than a few minutes. Anyone who sets foot in this river has a 3% chance of coming back out.”
The guide then pointed out a number or bright red buoys floating randomly in the water, about the size of a large soccer ball. He had us guess what they might be and we came up with nothing. He told us they were “crocodile buoys”, in the water for the sole purpose of attracting the crocs, who, being very curious, will give them a bite to see how they taste. Not liking the taste of polyurethane, they’ll spit them out and move on. The guides come around occasionally and measure the bite imprints, which gives them an idea of what’s in the water and big they are.
Message was received, loud and clear, and every time we stopped somewhere in the middle of nowhere, we were reminded that “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalms 121:2), since it obviously won’t be coming from anywhere else for awhile. It was a gentle reminder that yes, we do need each other.
Every soul we met wanted to chat, sometimes interminably it seemed. It was sad to realize we’ve really become ‘city slickers’ and yet, those lives we lead in close proximity to others can be a real asset.
So I was reminded of the places in the Bible where we are encouraged to “know our enemy” (see below).
Our guide also showed us a crocodile trap. It’s just like the bear traps I’ve seen in Colorado, but about half submerged in the water, complete with a big fish or some red meat as bait. When a big critter is caught, he’ll be moved along either to a more remote tourist and cattle-free area, or else he’ll go to a farm where he’ll be fixed up into a nice wallet.
The guide beamed as he reported that every year the crocs are getting bigger and bigger, which (at least to him) is a good thing because the species is recovering from years of being hunted nearly to extinction.
In the words of my husband, “I’m sure there’s a sermon here somewhere”. Like, where are the ‘crocodile buoys in your life? Have the things you’ve chewed on left an impact for others to see? What consequences will follow?
I watch my little grand boys growing up in a world that seems to have no warning signs left. I often wonder if I or the next generation have enough Biblical Background in us to ‘WARN” us when the dangers appear. I think of the verse in the Bible that describes Satan so well. Here in Australia you just have to use the word Crocodile where the Lion is!
1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
So think with me how we can check our buoys for croc bites. I’m writing this for my self as well as anyone else.
Are we getting complacent with all this Corona stuff, thinking it’s easier to catch a podcast rather than dragging ourselves out to church? Doing that robs you of your chance for fellowship, and yes, for accountability.
Are our attitudes towards what we once considered real sin changing and numbing with the times?
Are we too lazy or apathetic to get out and vote, knowing deep inside we need to fight to keep what we once held dear?
While in High School a guy named “Tony Fontane” came to talk to us. He’d been a popular singer in the 50’s until a near fatal accident led him to find Christ and clean up his life. Here’s what he left me with: “You can’t walk thru a barn and come out smelling like a rose … unless the name of the cow was Rose.”
Preach on, Brothers and Sisters,
Marsha
Next week we’ll talk a little more about keeping ourselves safe in perilous times.
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