I guess there are some things you just never get used to. When we first moved out in the middle of nowhere, I complained almost immediately about the bugs and creepy crawlers invading every conceivable area possible. Then I was reminded that these little creatures were not the invaders, we were! They were here first and we chose to build in their territory. I can understand that but somehow having this little tidbit of information does not in any way set me at ease with these little critters.

Of course, some are worse than others. For instance, who doesn't cringe at the dreaded scorpion? I know I do. And I have discovered my husband is not a great fan of the scorpion either. After all no one enjoys an encounter with a scorpion! Although I must admit, I did chuckle a bit at one of my husband's scorpion adventures.

It began as a rather routine trip to the mailbox although it ended with a tad more excitement. He was coming home from somewhere and decided to get the mail before pulling into the driveway. He drove his truck beside the mailbox just as he had done many times before. He rolled down his window, reached inside and drew out the mail... along with a scorpion sitting comfortably on top.

Startled, he tried to flip it out the window. But that strategy was a lost effort for it dropped right in his lap. Okay, now it was time to get serious, leave the truck and brush it off...quickly! So that's exactly what he did. Unfortunately the scorpion didn't come out with him. To add insult to his near injury he realized that in his haste to jump from the truck, he failed to put the gear into Park. Not only that but he found himself entangled in the seatbelt as he made his exit. The truck was now moving and he was trying desperately to free himself from the seatbelt before being dragged into the mailbox. Finally, he obtained seatbelt freedom but the scorpion was somewhere inside as the truck began to move down the road while my husband stood there trying to figure out what was happening and what he should do next. He didn't really need to give it a lot of thought. His next move would be to catch the truck before it got too far down the road. So the chase began.

Where is a video camera when you need one?! Fortunately, he did manage to catch up with the moving vehicle before it hit anything but he never saw the scorpion again...at least, not yet. It is no doubt still roaming around somewhere inside the truck lurking and waiting for the opportune time to execute revenge on the person who interrupted its afternoon nap on the mail. I can only hope this scary little creature doesn't consider me to be 'guilty by association'.

Did you ever hear of a 'Dear John' letter bringing pain in someone's life? Well, now you have heard how a letter can deliver a completely different type of pain in a totally unique way. Of course I don't really believe scorpions choose their victims. Anyone coming into contact with them is most likely to be a victim of their sting. Now think a minute and tell me, just who does that sound like?

1 Peter 5:8 tells us. It says, 'Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.' You see he doesn't necessarily care who he hurts either. He will deliver his sting whenever the opportunity is there and according to this verse, he is actively looking for any and every opportunity.

And once again, we know this all because of a letter. Yes another letter delivering news of potential pain and misery. But this letter is different than the other two letters mentioned. Although this letter warns of evil and its ways, we can be assured this letter has a greater purpose than simply a warning of pending doom in our future. How can we be so sure of that?

We can know because just a few verses later in 1 Peter 5:12, he says, 'I have written this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I consider a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God is with you no matter what happens.' Wow! The grace of God is with us no matter what happens! And we know from 2 Corinthians 12:9 that 'His grace is sufficient'. It seems we have the only ointment needed for the attacks of Devil.

I'm not even sure if there is an ointment to soothe the sting of a scorpion. But that's okay because it isn't as necessary for us as His grace.