DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Cabins, Wolves, Bears, Oh My!
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There’s nothing like…
the melodious chorus of a pack of wolves at 7:00 AM in the mountains.

“You hear that?” I asked Kevin.
“Wolves,” he answered.
“They sound close.”
“They are.”
“I already prayed before we came up here, so we’re fine… but… what’s the protocol for facing a pack of wolves?” I wondered.
“Go inside,” my husband surmised.

Our laughter, at this point, lets you know that we don’t feel the least bit in danger. We’re calm and panic-free, tucked away in our cozy, toasty cabin (thanks to a lovely Christian ministry that provides complimentary pastoral retreats in CA).

I had planned on going for a morning walk to Inspiration Point overlooking Lake Gregory, but decided it was best to let Wolfgang and his Crew finish out their sunrise praise party. No need to compete. This ain’t The Voice.

Healthy Respect for God’s Creatures

You see, I have a healthy respect for all God’s creatures, especially those that aren’t regulars at Hollywood’s D Pet Hotel or Pimp My Pooch.

This morning’s wolf gang certainly qualifies on that list. As well as the bear I ran into in the Poconos many moons ago who looked nothing like Yogi the Bear, Winnie the Pooh or Jungle Book’s Baloo!

Smokey Bear

He probably looked more like Smokey, now that I think of it, though I didn’t get a good look at his face. I was on a retreat, similar to this, but before marriage. On my way back from quiet time at the lake, I hear, “BANG!”

I look to my right, about 20 feet away, and see the biggest bear’s behind ever. Smokey’s head is completely in the huge camp trash can. Thank God he can’t see me.

“You’re not supposed to run from bears,” I tell myself as my legs Usain Bolt towards my cabin.
“Cover me!” I pray to God as I blaze my own trail.

I never look back to check on Smokey.
I get to my cabin and decide it’s time for me and the Poconos to call it a day.
Healthy respect, Fam.
Healthy respect.

What about David?

I know some of you holy ones are wondering why I didn’t stand and declare David’s confession from 1 Samuel 17:37, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me… ”

Well, all I can say is that God provided me a way of escape, and I took it. I didn’t have to pull a David and rescue the sheep this time, seize the bear by its hair and strike it and kill it. Smokey was fascinated with the trash. I was only briefly acquainted with his hind parts.

Be Discerning

I don’t want to discourage you from mountain retreats, Fam. They are quite lovely. Being this close to God’s creation puts things in wonderful perspective. If He created all this, He certainly can work out whatever we’ve got going on in the Hills and whatever you’ve got going on your side of the world.

But when you make your reservation at your cozy cabin in the Poconos or Lake Gregory, be discerning. Know when to dance with wolves and when to run from Smokey.

Just saying,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian

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