Predator on the Prowl!

Many of us are fascinated with roadrunners. They are an entertaining species of the cuckoo family of birds. I have seen them in New Mexico and Texas. Of course, my first encounter was on television during the Saturday morning cartoons of my childhood. Who could forget all the ridiculously funny exploits and repeatedly failed attempts of Wile E. Coyote to capture Road Runner? These Loony Tunes cartoon characters were created by Chuck Jones for Warner Brothers in 1949. I can still hear Road Runners’ signature and irritating car horn sound tormenting Coyote with a rapid-fire “Beep! Beep!” as he speeds away in each episode!

On the Prowl in Texas!

A roadrunner is capable of limited flight. I have seen these birds in action and to me it looks more like a leap or hop than actual flying though. Most of their movement is usually on the ground running where they can scoot along at speeds of 15-20 mph. Their food source includes insects, lizards, snakes, and small mammals. Using their pointed beaks, they can be quite vicious in dominating their prey.

While students of the life sciences find it quite interesting to study the food chain of nature, there are ordinary folks who find this discussion less “tasteful!” (Excuse my punning!) My Texas family finds the roadrunners to be an unwanted predator! My daughter-in-law and son prize their beloved little Anoles that inhabit the front porch flower bed! They are angry these days that their collection of cute and vulnerable little reptiles of the small lizard variety are under assault!  

Krispy Kreme Scavenger in NM!

There have been too many sightings of sneaky roadrunners snatching Anoles from the bedding areas around trees and front porches where they feed on small insects that threaten the flowering plants. This natural process of “survival of the fittest” may be fascinating to students of nature, but it is totally disgusting and abhorrent to those who have adopted the Anoles as their pet lizards. One man’s pet may become another man’s prey! What’s the answer to this conundrum?

Do you have any bad habits that have become pet-like or too familiar to you? You live with them each day. You may even nurture and encourage them. These habits have become too comfortable in your inner surroundings! They could be destructive thoughts, practices, or attitudes. Satan is a master at managing such menacing things for us if we will let him! He can even try to convince us that these negative habits are not harmful at all but simply humans being human!

The Devil has been up to no good since the beginning of time. He falsely promises pleasure, empowerment, and enlightenment. Adam and Eve yielded to his craftiness in the Garden of Eden. Later God confronted them, “‘Did you eat from the tree I told you not to eat from?’ The man said, ‘The woman… gave me fruit from the tree, and yes, I ate it.’ God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ ‘The serpent seduced me,’ she said, ‘and I ate.’” (Genesis 3:11-13, MSG).

Jesus stood up to the Devil in the desert just days after His baptism. He resisted Satan’s temptations, craftiness, and deceptions by using the Word as His defense. In three specific ways, the Devil attempted to exploit Jesus' unique relationship as the Son of God. Yet, in every temptation, Jesus countered with a quote from God’s Word, saying “It is written.” Finally, He sent the predator packing saying, “Get out of here, Satan, for the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’” (Matthew 4:10, NLT).

We too, uniquely belong to God, the Son. God is committed to protecting us from the Devil’s predatory exploits, but we must yield to Him and follow Christ’s example. The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm.” (Ephesians 6:13, NLT).

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,

active churchman and

doting grandparent.

Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com