Coming to a Head

My parents used to warn us about keeping things in perspective. Personality types in one house helped us to learn what that meant. Some were cool headed and some were not. We actually need both type of people in this world for balance. Sometimes you had to set a fire under some to get them to move, and for other's you had to hold them back.

Timing is always important, the right action at the right time, we learned from experience.

During the '55 flood, it was said by authorities that we should stay put until the alarm was sounded then, head for high ground. My parents were split on this one, and dad winning out, did not wait. The dams broke and by the time the alarm sounded, many were trapped in their homes. We were set on high ground, safely.

Sometimes, you have got to listen to alarmists. Other times, when you know when to strike with preparedness, your result will be greater, as time allows you to plan for the unexpected with allies.

This week I observed two things that were coming to a head, --one, the ant hill forming outdoors on my front garden and one already chewing up my deck. Both took place within days, unnoticed until there was some damage. We can anticipate the coming of these critters, but even spraying doesn't get them all and we must keep them in check. The small things in life can bite you in the wallet if you don't keep an eye out. This is a small crisis which unchecked can become larger.

The long and short of it is that I want to get them all "now" and it will drive me crazy if I don't. Type A. Other people know that their lives are short lived and they do not get too excited. Surely enough, after the exterminator sprayed, all activity ended for the nests that had developed almost overnight. Unfortunately, we will not rid ourselves of the ants, living near the woods. "Where there is a will there is a way", (one of my mom's favorite sayings). Christians never lose hope.

This all brings to mind the current crisis of ISIS. They are like the ants, everywhere and threatening people who are trying to live their life in peace, with destruction. Presently, like a pimple, we are treating this situation with a mild solution, which possibly will be ineffective, and may develop into a head. This one may hurt.

 It is easy to invade anything that does not fight back. In our country we call that cowardly. Remember the old slogan "what goes around comes around." It is one of the universal unseen laws, like what goes up must come down.

The small ant hill possibly had 300 ants in it's army and with one treatment, they didn't know what hit them. Dead as a doornail, they were exterminated. The difference is, once detected, we are watching for them and stand ready. There is no great rush, we will get them using every trick in the book, like sugar and vinegar. If that doesn't work, we have other remedies.

There are times when you have a pimple that you must let come to a head, then after it ripens, you must squish it like a bug.

Patience is a virtue not be underestimated. We are prepared and we are not alone, ever. Somewhere in my youth I recall a song--"in the jungle a mighty jungle a lion sleeps tonight." What happens to him when he is provoked and awake? It's sort of like the story of not awakening a sleeping giant, this time though, I'm not referring to a fairy tale.