Path Walking

A path at the back of our property between our neighbour’s lot and ours is well worn by feral cats, squirrels, a periodic raccoon and then one day we watched a very slow, wobbly Virginia opossum saunter on by on it.  What a surprise and very unusual for an animal that is generally awake throughout the night scrounging for food!  I think this creature belongs in an ugly animal club that God has created.  It is the size of a house cat, has course fur, a rat-like tail, a long pointy snout and beady eyes.  Apparently “opossum” means “white animal” as named by a native tribe way back when.  Opossums live in North America, whereas possums live in Australia – two different animals.  These excellent climbers live solitary lives while moving further north due to increasing global temperatures.  When threatened they will play dead and give off a foul scent along with baring their 50 teeth and foaming at the mouth – thus the term “playing possum.”  The female will give birth to about 13 blind and furless babies the size of a dime that remain in her pouch for the first two months.  Yes, that would be a pouch just like the kangaroos. After that they will travel on her back for a while.  They are God’s cleanup crew for us because they eat any food waste or dead animal bones that would be bad for human health.  They also favour insects such as ticks, often eating up to 4000 in a week.  Ticks produce Lyme’s disease that can damage people’s bodies particularly when undetected for a long time.  It is wonderful how God has made these helpful, harmless animals for our benefit since they don’t get sick from the food they eat.  I learned something new again.

Gary had contact recently with our friend Thomas in Myanmar.  The path these dear people are required to walk on these days is getting steeper and steeper.  Thomas said that they are afraid to go downtown to shop for fear of random shooting by soldiers.  Please pray that the inhumane behaviour of the military leaders will somehow be stopped.

For the past four Sundays we have successfully streamed our Sunday service (facebook.com/hillsidechurchmilton) from Ned Devine’s restaurant;  however, we are still quite vulnerable for services in April as their inside dining could be closed any time due to the rapid increase of COVID. Gary and I are very grateful we got our vaccines this past week.

Another person walking a difficult path is our Outreach Director, Scott Lockhart.  He owns a rental house in Timmins.  The current tenant is moving out but has left the house in quite a mess as well as not paying rent for a while.  Scott travelled there last week and this week to determine and work on the renovations needed.  He is looking for a new tenant that will be more responsible along with paying rent on time which will be increased.  He will return home next weekend and take on the task of hand delivering Bibles and The John Challenge books to our neighbourhood contacts in Milton for Easter.  He would appreciate your prayers.

Jesus trod a path He didn’t want to take which led to His death and burial that we remember next weekend.  The good news in it all is His resurrection on Easter Sunday – a very joyful event.  Why not celebrate His life by watching The Chosen Sunday evening at 8:00, the first episode of season two?  You can also watch some background info – youtu.be/gxV9BK_LQgw – 10 minutes.

Easter Blessings Everyone!

Wendy

Wendy.carter@kainos.org