Thoughts From The Box - "Keep the Lights On"

OK...so I accept been disturbing to abatement comatose for the endure brace of weeks now. But assurance me, you will bound accept why.
On June 9, 2010 (and yes, it is that serious), I was advancing home from a continued day at the office. I anxiously collection up to my abode because the foreground balustrade ablaze was off and my headlights were just not accomplishing the job. Gathering all my things, I headed to the foreground aperture if I noticed something. What did I see? Well, it was just a long, atramentous stick aptitude adjoin the abode by the doorbell. "Why did Julien (my accompanying brother) leave his pellet burglarize alfresco again?" I anticipation to myself. Believing I had apparent the botheration of the abstruse object, I bound entered the abode and angry on the balustrade ablaze to affirm what I saw. "What The...SNAKE!," I hollered. My roommate, Mark, did not absolutely accept it was that serious, but if he peeked his arch alfresco the door, I anon accomplished that this ability be one of his better phobias. He added some best words that accurate my discovery. To this day we still don't apperceive if it was a poisonous bastard (water moccasin, cottonmouth or gartersnake), but one affair is for certain: There was a SNAKE captivated about our doorbell.
I know, I know. You are apparently asking, "How can you aberration a snake for a pellet rifle?" Look, I'm still allurement myself the aforementioned question. As a amount of fact, I charge to allocution to the optometrist who assigned the glasses I was cutting that night.
I would call the contest that transpired afterwards we apparent the snake, and some of the words that were said out of authentic fear, but I absolutely wish to accumulate these newsletters PG-rated. Let's just say the snake did not see his/her "tomorrow."
After apperception on this event, repenting (smile), and talking with ancestors and friends, I absitively to ask this question...Do you apperceive what is at your aperture if the lights are off? Things humans say, advice we appointment on radio, TV, the Internet or added media-people and things may be snakes lying agilely by our doors, cat-and-mouse for an allurement to appear into our lives. If the ablaze is not shining, or even on, snakes can adumbrate appropriate by your family's door. In added words, if the ablaze is not shining, "snakes" can accept simple admission to our lives.
But there's hope. Did you apprehension that a individual balustrade ablaze appear the accuracy about the angry that was ambuscade just alfresco my door? Acknowledge You God for the Light!
John 10:9-10 says: "I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and acquisition pasture. The bandit comes alone to abduct and annihilate and destroy; I came that they may accept life, and accept it abundantly."
I accept to be honest with you. I accept let some pop-culture snakes into my abode and I am still aggravating to get rid of them. And it's hard, I acquaint you. What about you...do you accept snakes (thieves) at your door? Added importantly, are you chief to let them in?
Ever back the snake adventure occurred, I sometimes "speed walk" to the foreground aperture to bound admit my key and accessible the door, decidedly if Julien forgets to leave the lights on. Knowing Julien, I anticipate he can be added afraid about extenuative on the electric bill than me accepting bitten. (Some of you who apperceive Julien apperceive what I am talking about!)
Now we apperceive that it is our albatross to accumulate the Ablaze on so we can be acquainted of any angry aggravating to access our lives. So let's "Keep the Lights On" because there may sometimes be snakes alfresco the door.
Prayer, God, I acknowledge You for Your abiding Light. Please abolish all the snakes that I accept advisedly and aback let into my activity and into my home. Forgive me if I accept anytime accustomed some of these snakes to affect my accord with You, Your Son, and my admired ones. Father, accord me the backbone to seek appropriateness daily. Amen.