I saw a random internet question this morning that started me down proverbial rabbit trails. “Does anyone know of a local exotic vet that cares for reptiles?” First, is the vet “exotic” or the reptile? Okay, I admit I’m being semantically picky. Second, who in their right mind keeps reptiles? If that’s you, I apologize. But I don’t get it. This is my snuggly snake, Cobra the Strangler.
I’ve never understood the appeal. Most reptiles don’t cuddle. They don’t wag their tails when you come home. Their “kiss” isn’t just sloppy; it’s deadly. They rarely – or never – inspire Hallmark movies.
Then again…The more I thought about it, the more I realized we all have things we choose to keep that aren’t exactly healthy. And I’m not just talking ice cream, french fries, and pizza.
We nurse grudges. We feed our pride. We hold onto anger. Our bitterness explodes out of our hearts into our words. We tell ourselves these things aren’t dangerous because we have them under control or that other people are worse. We rationalize and minimize, convincing ourselves that we’re safe because they haven’t bitten us … yet.
For most of us, the longer we keep pets, the more attached we become. We name them. Some studies suggest that over time we share qualities. We justify or excuse what they do. We build our routines around them. I know Tori has me well-trained!
The problem is, our unhealthy (un-Christlike) habits work much the same way.
They become familiar. They feel normal. They become part of us and inseparable from us. We convince ourselves we can handle it, that we can hide our more negative “qualities” from others. But we’re wrong. They’re biting us, but they’re also biting others.
Perhaps that’s why Peter cautions us to “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander” (1 Peter 2:1). He doesn’t say to manage them or keep them in a secure cage. He says to get rid of them.
So maybe today’s question isn’t whether you know an exotic vet.
Maybe it’s this: What are you feeding that you need to get rid of? It may have become familiar. It may even have a name. But just because you’ve lived with it for a long time doesn’t mean it belongs in your life or that you have to keep it forever.
And if you do happen to own a reptile named Cobra the Strangler … I’m not coming over to pet it.
Just a random pondering for a foggy Monday. Have a blessed day!
