“You should put these in your car, otherwise raccoons will come out and eat them.” Paula advised as we were cleaning up after supper on the campground. With only little experience of camping, I really didn’t think that these creatures would come out to eat these fully wrapped ramen noodles, but I listened to her and put the box in my trunk.
Night fell and all the families went to their tents for a good night’s rest. It was a long day of enjoying nature and a wonderful hike on the bluffs of the state park, and so we all fell asleep right away. In the middle of the night, I woke up at the sound of footsteps. I thought to myself, “Who would walk around our site at this time of the night?” Then I heard bags of chips opening and they were eating them! I managed to put away the box of ramens but I had left a box of chips that I bought from Costco for all the kids to eat on the picnic table. That’s when I remembered the raccoons!
I didn’t know what to do. I don’t like animals that much, and I was scared at the thought of leaving. But I had to find out. So I grabbed a flashlight, zipped up the tent and flashed the light toward the picnic table. There were 4 raccoons feasting around the table and bags of chips were all over the place. I was scared to go out. I didn’t know anything about raccoons and I was scared that they would attack me. After a few minutes, I gathered the courage to step out. As soon as I stepped out of my tent, the raccoons disappeared instantly. I stood out there for a couple of minutes but they didn’t come back out. I took the moment to put the box of chips into my car. In the morning, I picked up 15 bags of chips around the picnic. I am sure the raccoons had a great time.
Food was there, and the raccoons came out to eat them. It’s as simple as that. It’s like setting the wolf to guard the sheep. That’s no different for us spiritually. If we are exposed to temptation, we will be tempted to fall into sin. In the face of temptation, the only thing you should do is to get out, so that you will not indulge in sin. Even better, God tells us that He will help us. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. I pray that we will learn to enjoy walking with God in this world full of sin, as He will guide and help us to stay away from it and our faith in God will grow more than ever.
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