I saw one of these the other day. Out in the woods, of course. It made me think of someone I miss – Chesney, my 88 lb. Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees mix. He passed away last April.
Seeing the coyote reminded me of when Chesney was much younger (me, too); at least a dozen years ago. Early in the mornings in summer (which is really the only time you can walk outside in much of Arizona), Chesney and I enjoyed walking through the desert spaces near our home in Phoenix. These were spaces where desert wildlife was prominent: rabbits, roadrunners, lizards, snakes, and coyotes.
The coyotes were constantly “dancing” with us. Most of the time we couldn’t see them, but we saw them often enough. They were there. Lurking, usually slinking off in the opposite direction, acting disinterested and even a bit bothered by our presence.
Except for one Friday morning. Early into our walk, I looked up and suddenly saw two coyotes ahead of us, then one to the side, and then one behind – all at a still respectable distance. But one thing bothered me: they weren’t moving, they were still.
Chesney’s reaction struck me. Usually he leaped for joy at the sight of creatures both human and animal, but not that day. He stood still himself, alert, ready for…for what?
I’d heard that coyotes are becoming more aggressive, but hadn’t seen it, except to observe that they just seem acclimated to human presence. But we didn’t take any chances that day. We backtracked a bit, then started in the direction of the rear animal, who casually strolled back to the pack.
We’d let down our guard in a sense, hadn’t been watching. Satan’s counting on that very thing in order to surround us and pounce and do some spiritual damage. Be alert. Be aware. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith. Stand strong on the Word.
“Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him by being firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8,9a EHV)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Seeing the coyote reminded me of when Chesney was much younger (me, too); at least a dozen years ago. Early in the mornings in summer (which is really the only time you can walk outside in much of Arizona), Chesney and I enjoyed walking through the desert spaces near our home in Phoenix. These were spaces where desert wildlife was prominent: rabbits, roadrunners, lizards, snakes, and coyotes.
The coyotes were constantly “dancing” with us. Most of the time we couldn’t see them, but we saw them often enough. They were there. Lurking, usually slinking off in the opposite direction, acting disinterested and even a bit bothered by our presence.
Except for one Friday morning. Early into our walk, I looked up and suddenly saw two coyotes ahead of us, then one to the side, and then one behind – all at a still respectable distance. But one thing bothered me: they weren’t moving, they were still.
Chesney’s reaction struck me. Usually he leaped for joy at the sight of creatures both human and animal, but not that day. He stood still himself, alert, ready for…for what?
I’d heard that coyotes are becoming more aggressive, but hadn’t seen it, except to observe that they just seem acclimated to human presence. But we didn’t take any chances that day. We backtracked a bit, then started in the direction of the rear animal, who casually strolled back to the pack.
We’d let down our guard in a sense, hadn’t been watching. Satan’s counting on that very thing in order to surround us and pounce and do some spiritual damage. Be alert. Be aware. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith. Stand strong on the Word.
“Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him by being firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8,9a EHV)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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