Run, Meerkat, Run!
By Carolyn Hulliberger
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
Ecclesiastes 5:10
By Carolyn Hulliberger
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
Ecclesiastes 5:10
I was mesmerized by the drama
unfolding on my television. The Meerkat
Manor narrator spoke in hushed tones describing the venomous snake
camouflaged in the parched grass. The unsuspecting meerkat wandered away from
the main group. The viper waited patiently for the approach of his prey. “No!
Turn back! Run! Don’t you see it?” I shouted at the television. The narrator’s
voice spoke more urgently; the background music grew louder. Suddenly, the lone
meerkat sees the predator. Immediately the meerkat jumped back and gave a
warning shriek. In an instant, the entire family group responded, surrounding
the viper in a complete circle, except for a small gap meant for the snake’s
departure. Each one of the meerkats got up on his legs and began to arch back
and forth in unison at the threat, growling, hissing, spitting. Each time the
snake lunged, the group adjusted its defensive posture until, finally, the
predator gave up its hunt and made use of the escape hole.
I was struck by the clear parallels between those odd little mongooses to our human existence. First, we should not drift far away from our support systems…our church, community group, our family. Alone, we are more vulnerable to an attack from the Enemy. Second, when we find ourselves under attack, call for help. Dealing with a problem or temptation single-handedly is rarely effective. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves…” And lastly, when a member of our family calls, we…as the Church…need to respond quickly. The reaction should be unified against the source of the attack, not against the one who wandered off. Isaiah states, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way….” (Isaiah 53:6). Each of us has played the part of the “the wanderer” at one time.
By the way, my favorite part of this Meerkat Manor episode came a few minutes later when a hawk swooped down from the sky and put an end to that snake!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you know of someone who is wandering too far from community? Pray about how God might use you to help bring her closer to caring friends.
2. Think about your past. Did God use someone to draw you back into community? Share that story with someone else in your life today…along with the “Meerkat Principles” above.
FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 5:8
I was struck by the clear parallels between those odd little mongooses to our human existence. First, we should not drift far away from our support systems…our church, community group, our family. Alone, we are more vulnerable to an attack from the Enemy. Second, when we find ourselves under attack, call for help. Dealing with a problem or temptation single-handedly is rarely effective. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves…” And lastly, when a member of our family calls, we…as the Church…need to respond quickly. The reaction should be unified against the source of the attack, not against the one who wandered off. Isaiah states, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way….” (Isaiah 53:6). Each of us has played the part of the “the wanderer” at one time.
By the way, my favorite part of this Meerkat Manor episode came a few minutes later when a hawk swooped down from the sky and put an end to that snake!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you know of someone who is wandering too far from community? Pray about how God might use you to help bring her closer to caring friends.
2. Think about your past. Did God use someone to draw you back into community? Share that story with someone else in your life today…along with the “Meerkat Principles” above.
FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 5:8
Along
with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn serves Oakwood
Church in Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls, and is
the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.
