Slug Vision

While this term isn't something you'd probably be diagnosed with by your friendly neighborhood ophthalmologist, I'm here to tell you it's a very real concept. I should know, because my seven-year-old grandson, Joshua, told me.



This afternoon he was on my porch and came running in to ask for some salt. "Grandma, you have a whole bunch of slugs out there!" I was afraid he'd dump the entire salt box on the critters, so I went outside with him. The slugs on the porch and walkway were easy for me to see, but Joshua explained that there were some hiding in amongst my flowers. I could see their slimy trails, but not the dreaded bodies themselves. He tried his best to point them out to me. "Up there, Grandma, between those two flowers. More to the right." Most times I'd eventually see what he was talking about, but I think there were a few that got away because I couldn't see them. "Joshua, you're really good at spotting those," I said. He replied, "That's because I've got slug vision!"

His response has stuck with me all afternoon. Our sin can be like a slug. It's small, ugly, and out to ruin the growth taking place in our lives. If we ignore it, it will only get bigger and cause more damage. But in all honesty, sometimes we're not able to see it ourselves--it takes someone else to point it out to us.

Jesus said we're the salt of the earth. I've always heard that salt helps to preserve and give flavor, but I think there's another benefit of it too. Just as a light sprinkling of salt will eradicate the slug, so our lives should help eliminate the sin around us.

May we all have someone in our lives with the gift of slug vision!

My Apple Pie in the Sky Guy

Have you ever seen a better looking apple pie? Me neither! John, my husband of thirty-seven years, has become famous for his homemade apple pies, lattice crusts and all.

It's not that I can't bake one myself, but why should I when he does such an outstanding job? I'll continue to cook meals, clean house, and do the gardening, as long as he makes those pies! (This man can do just about anything. Years ago, with no experience, he made a prom dress for our daughter Christina's junior year. She was so pleased with the result that she had him make her a new dress the next year! He's a former pastor and electronics engineer. He built our house, plays in a local symphony with a violin he built, and rides a motorcycle. Oh yes, and he loves to play golf. Quite the well-rounded guy. He can figure out a way to fix nearly anything that breaks. I think I'll keep him for at least another thirty-seven years!)


Last week he did something special for the seniors he teaches at a nearby Christian school. In addition to showing them fabulous pictures of different galaxies and nebulae and presenting his insights on how God created the world out of nothing, he baked a couple of apple pies for them to enjoy during his presentation of "Apple Pie and the Universe."

I'm not sure how much those teens understood concerning the dancing quarks, parity, and creation rings, but I know the apple pie message came through loud and clear. I wish my high school teachers had thought of bringing me a piece of apple pie, rather than expecting me to bring them an apple!