THE FROG AND THE SCORPION

The story goes that the river was flooding and the scorpion said to the frog, “please help me and carry me on your back to the other side,” The frog said, “you will sting me and kill me if I do.” The scorpion scoffed and said that it wouldn’t be in his best interest as they would both die and drown.

So the frog agreed and the scorpion jumped on his back and he swam across to the shore. As they reached safety the scorpion stung the frog. As he was dying the frog lamented, “why did you do that?’ The scorpion responded arrogantly, “It’s in my nature.”

As Easter approached and I reviewed Lent I was faced with temptations and had a conversation with Father Joe Keaney, Parish Priest of St. Ignatius. I wanted an accurate account and interpretation of the three times that Jesus was confronted by temptation. Father Keaney said that temptation was normal and that it was our response that was the issue. Do we take that temptation to the next wrong behaviour step or not. That makes the difference. Tempting thoughts are just that and can be dismissed. Lingering thoughts are the problem.

Jesus was tempted but never sinned. Lent is our preparation for the resurrection. The fasting, alms giving and prayer can be compared to how an athlete goes into strict training before a marathon event. Similarly Ramadan in the Moslem calendar is about fasting and purification.

Like the scorpion in the parable above, it is in our nature to behave in certain ways and our lifelong task is to rely on God to give us mercy and grace to change. It takes time and is a process.

The reality is that when we go into the “desert” to find God and to change our ways we meet up with the enemy. The enemy gives us a false short lived promise. We may give in to our desire for instant gratification whether it is food, sex, money, anger, impatience or other quick fixes. We don’t really feel any better as remorse sets in and the situation isn’t resolved. When there is comfort in resisting the temptation and that satisfies us, then temptation will lose its appeal. Again it’s like that athlete. Practise and exercise and build up mental and emotional muscle is the way.

Replace remorse with the right response. Pastor Bonnie Dueschle from Celebration Church in Harare has a mantra – YOUR RESPONSE DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY. (Incidentally there is a concert this Saturday where Pastor Bonnie is performing. She really is a powerful woman of God. Don’t miss it)

As humans we know that we need the divine power to help us live a decent life.

Easter is a special time and the attraction of crucifying ones past and resurrecting a new life with Christ is the promise and the road for Christians. I was shocked on Good Friday when CNN interviewed a sample of young people and asked them what the day represented. Many were blank, one young girl with piercings, laughed and claimed to be an atheist.

I am thankful that in Zambia and generally in Africa the church and religion is alive and well and growing. Some people may go from the pub to the church; I don’t have a problem with that. Look where Jesus was found – always with the people others thought were not socially acceptable.

So coming out of Lent and into the Resurrection of Jesus Christ I reconfirmed my passion and love for him and that in my imperfection I am still loved and my task is to receive the redemption.

Looking at forgiveness at this time made me remember a personal story that made an impression on me. My mother’s uncle had “run away” with a woman to Bulawayo from Johannesburg and left behind his family of four children and a wife. He was a barber and in later years was an alcoholic. When he was admitted to the Salvation Army in Bulawayo my mother received a phone call and was shocked as she had never heard of this uncle. She bought him pyjamas and paid for his up keep. He sold them for booze. Eventually my father put his foot down and said enough, no more spending money. When the call came that Uncle had died, my mother called his daughter in Joburg. She denied having a father and said that he as far as all of them were concerned he didn’t exist as they hadn’t had contact with him for many years. They refused to pay for his burial. My father again said no, my mother was not going to to pay for his burial either. He had a pauper’s burial. My mother cried. I was perhaps 10 years old and this influenced me greatly. I vowed never to have to ask for money and would earn my own and also I thought that this was a harsh decision and many times through my life I chose forgiveness and thought it important to remain friends with those that had hurt me. So this Easter I reviewed this principle and decided that perhaps I have been too accommodating and in fact some people don’t deserve my friendship and everything must be based on mutual respect.

I know that Jesus turned over the tables in the temple in anger when he was displeased with the way the money changers were crooking the people. So right anger exists and my own free will tells me that enough of turning the other cheek and this Easter I burnt some bridges with people and events that no longer serve a purpose in my life and they ought to be relegated to the pauper’s grave yard. I learnt that I am my Father’s daughter too! Harsh decisions are important for self preservation.

In our life let us value the promise of Jesus and do something differently. Let us be true to ourselves while we keep Jesus close to us and ask for his grace and mercy.

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