How to meet an alligator

Udai B. Hoffberg

Author's note:

If you live in a northern climate (I do) you may not know (I didn't) that alligators—unlike crocodiles—do not attack people unless sorely provoked. My fear of meeting an alligator was therefore false, though, for a time, it was very real to me. But that's the nature of fear, isn't it—the false appearing real? Even so, this isn't so much a story of overcoming fear of the unknown as it is an account of being guided by the spiritual thoughts, intuitions, and inspirations we call "angels. " In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy defines "angels" as "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality. " ^{ Science and Health, p.581.}

Marshall is the oldest and hugest alligator on Sanibel Island, and I met him one morning. But let me tell you what preceded our introduction.

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