Article September 2, 2013 Issue

The light that paralyzes evil

Melanie H. Ball

I heard a yell from across the house: “Mom, there’s a lizard in the family room!” Rushing in, I saw a slender lizard, about a foot long, lounging under a small table, and our middle-school-aged son vociferously expressing his aversion to reptiles. Armed with a broom and colander, I attempted to shepherd this little one back out the door that had been left ajar, but to no avail. As he streaked under a nearby sofa, I knew it was time to call for backup.

About an hour later—during which I’d been standing watch in case our visitor decided to explore the rest of the house—a very calm fellow from Pest Control arrived on the scene. After assessing the situation and retrieving a bright flashlight from his van, he quickly and serenely redeposited the lizard into his rightful habitat in the backyard. “The trick is,” he explained, “you have to shine a bright light directly into the eyes of the lizard or snake, which temporarily blinds and paralyzes it, making it easy to remove.” What a thought! The peace of our home restored, I continued with my day.

That evening, while I was attending our branch church’s Wednesday testimony meeting, it occurred to me that there was a spiritual lesson to be learned from the events of the day.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Gardening lessons