Kaz ran back and forth around the garage while Molly went underneath, growling viciously as a little terrier can do when showing teeth. I turned my search light on but couldn't see underneath.
Suddenly, three young raccoons came running out of the garage and over the fence into the woods. But one, probably their mother, was underneath the garage, temporarily trapped. I finally spotted her and poked her with a long broom handle and she scampered off after her young ones.
I waited a few minutes and things calmed down so went back to sleep. At sunup, I dressed and went out to survey things more closely. The raccoons had been unable to get to the dog food and cat food (what they usually search for) since I keep them in heavy containers with tight bungee tie downs. But they did make a mess of the garage. They had knocked a number of boxes off shelves and dumped a tool chest which left things scattered.
And what about my brave barncats who live in the garage. They went into hiding. But, in all fairness to them, they were outnumbered and this mother raccoon, who is probably one I've seen before, is quite large.
Checking the chicken coops I did find a rooster missing his beautiful tail feathers. He probably got to close to the screen in an effort to protect his "harem" but there was no serious injury.
And what does this tell me about life and God? Merely this: all living things have an instinct for survival. Wild animals, however, have a much keener awareness than humans since they must depend on it to survive everyday. Starvation would come to them quickly, particularly in dry periods, if they didn't use their wits.
Unfortunately, we humans are growing more and more incapable of taking care of ourselves. There are many reasons, but I think foremost is our growing dependence on government and the "feeding trough" which is expanding quickly and is playing a large role in bankrupting our society, both morally and financially. Somehow we must find a way to break this addiction or we will be lost forever. We need to rekindle some of the individual initiative and energy that made this country great in the first place.
But those cunning little raccoons--they will be around forever. They know what they must do to survive and how to do it.
I would ask each of you to pray for guidance for our country and our people. It's time to wake and refocus on the importance of God and the dignity of the individual. God be with us all.