THAT KILLER INSTINCT

Years ago a friend of mine destroyed the first few days (and maybe more) of his married life. Shortly after leaving the church and heading out on his honeymoon he intentionally ran down a jack rabbit with his car! Not a good idea for the jack or for my friend!

I was reminded of that (male) killer instinct the other day. I was giving a young man a ride in my car. We came upon a white tailed deer with her delightful fawn. Up came the young man’s arms into a shooting stance and he was heard to mutter, “If only I had my gun!”

I was never much of hunter, nor marksman. However, I remember the last buck I dropped in mid flight. At dusk, on a chilly evening in November 1976, on my way back to the farm, after trudging for a couple hours, a beautiful 5-pronged buck bounded across the clearing at least 100 metres away. On one of his high jumps, I pulled the trigger and sent him nose diving back to earth. Never again. I sometimes tease my hunter friends that when I became a Christian I came up several bad habits … and the first one was the murdering of innocent animals!

On a much more serious note, the killer instinct in men throughout the world is appalling. How can murders and terrorist do it? But, maybe worse yet, it is done daily by the media, athletes and (most despicably) politicians who set out to destroy their opponents. I am dumfounded at the “hate literature” that supposedly mature, veteran politicians have the audacity to drop in my mail box.

And professed “church folk”! Better not go there.

It is no wonder that Jesus warning about gossiping, slander, and malicious anger (Matthew 5:21-22).

Why do we tolerate it? Something to consider.

Daughter-in-laws

An aged sage once advised me, "you can choose your friends, but you must accept their relatives." How true this is when it comes to the "in-laws"! Three times this summer I have been informed by "sons" that their mothers were hard on their daughter-in-laws. That does turn life into a challenge!

However, my experience has just been the opposite. My observation is that my mother (Marie McMillan) has enjoyed a very amicable relationship with all four of her daughter-in-laws: Carolyn, Heather, Kay, Ellen. (I guess the sons chose well!)

Ellen and I have certainly been bless with special daughter-in-laws: Deista, Rebecca, Tara. (I guess Ellen and I taught our sons to choose well!)

So, those of you who are still in the process of choosing ... choose well so that there will be no "in-law" regrets. Something worth considering.