Puppet

On Black Friday I went to a big outdoor flea market with my granddaughter. We made slow progress through the aisles of clothing, jewelry, and toys, because there were many things she was smitten by, and it takes a little while for a grandmother to say "No" to her first and favorite granddaughter. (I did sacrifice a five-spot for three woven finger puppets.). But it was when she spied a bag of common household sewing scissors and wanted them that I realized that what we have on our hands here is not normal desire, but a serious shopping issue.

Today I was reminded of that expedition again, but this time the finger (puppet) was pointed at me: I took on a new fear today. I started to fear that something I am greatly looking forward to will be disappointing when it finally comes. The thought had never entered my mind before today. Then someone introduced the notion in passing, and my soul latched on like a deer tick on a dog.

It was at this point that I realized that what I have on my hands here is not something normal and legitimate but a serious spiritual issue. Imagine: There is never a time when I am not nursing some fear or other. As soon as one abates, another pops up to take its place. What is that? If that's not a dead ringer for 1 Peter 5:8, then I'm Charlie McCarthy: "Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

We have whittled Satan down to a metaphor, but I am choosing to take this verse literally. It is the devil who puts new fears in my head-gently, without fanfare, making them seem like reasonable concerns. And unless I also take literally Ephesians' warning about warfare against principalities and powers, and the weaponry of the Word and faith against it, I will be his puppet all my life.