Rattled in the magic kingdom

Don't listen to Asherel. It was at least a 5 foot, if not 6 foot long diamond back rattle snake we almost ran over on the way to pick up my nephews to take them to the beach. I have never seen such a huge rattle snake, nor any rattle snake outside of captivity.

"I would strongly advise you don't go barefoot around here," I warned the nephews, shuddering as I pictured the swollen poison packed triangular head.

I almost didn't see him, focusing further down the road, and slammed on my brakes, screeching to a halt within centimeters of the giant reptile.

And horrifying and eerily tantalizing as that enormous pipe
of poison was, our encounters with dangerous nature were not at an end that day.

I took the two older nephews and Asherel to Cocoa Beach for the day. We were having a lovely time with the kids not going near the treacherous water. We played frisbee, dug giant holes, built a sand dragon, went shell hunting, and learned to skim board. Three hours passed and no kid seemed interested in swimming, which was fine with me with my past encounters with ocean wildlife too recent in my brain to be able to escape the visions of horrific creatures lurking in wait for these precious children.

And then they decided to go swim, with only half an hour left til we had to leave. Drat! I had almost escaped with a worry free afternoon. I patrolled the beach, scanning the water for tell tale fins and paced, chanting comforting verses to myself.

And then I saw all three of them racing out of the water at top speed. I hurried out, thinking I could punch the shark in the nose and buy them time. I saw they all still had all their limbs and no visible wounds.

But while it was not a shark, Nathan had been stung by some creature. He was in a great deal of pain and held out a red wrist with three puncture marks and a knee with red rashy marks. I assumed jellyfish and told him in a few seconds he would not hurt- just follow me, the Disaster Preparedness maestro.
I sprinkled meat tenderizer liberally on his wounds and he sighed with relief.

"That's better," he said.

We let Nathan choose our fast food stop for dinner, and within a half hour, the pain was completely gone.

Later, recounting the story of the snake to Nathan's grandparents as we all gathered in Animal Kingdom Lodge, Gramps asked why I didn't run over the snake. While the lodge may appear to honor the animal kingdom, apparently only those behind electric fences were sacrosanct.

Funny, much as I hate snakes and much as I would really really hate to have chanced upon that giant rattler while on foot, I had slammed on my brakes to avoid hitting it, sending all our car contents flying to the floor. I would have done anything in my power not to kill it.

I am similarly not happy with whatever creature stung my nephew but I am certain it was not malicious. We can't go killing all the animals that could harm us. It is their land and ocean too.

But the irony did not escape me, sitting in Animal Kingdom Lodge discussing running over animals in the kingdom.

I get the same uncomfortable feeling when discussing the compassion of Jesus while i am treating inept sales people with disdain. Walking the talk sometimes means living peaceably with rattle snakes, and jelly fish, and stupid people that irritate me to no end. I have a long long way to go but I will say, I never even considered killing the snake.

Job 5:17-18,22-23 (NIV)
"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. [18] For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. [22] You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth. [23] For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.


- Nothing is impossible with God
- hollowcreekfarm.org