Critter update

In the winter there were a few.  As the weather warmed there were a few more.  As the rain came some different ones appeared.  Now there are definitely critters we have to watch out for.  (And I KNOW they are more scared of us than them, but...)

After not seeing any for six months in Namibia, in a week's time I got to see four scorpions. Later people told me there are two kinds of scorpions in Namibia.  One is dangerous and one is VERY dangerous.

First there was the dead one in the back of the sanctuary on Sunday that got put on someone's hymnal at the end of the service and got a big reaction.  (Pastor later asked that those type of practical jokes be reserved for outside of the sanctuary.)

Then there was the one Jaydine and Geraldo stirred up in the sanctuary while we were sweeping.  They were in their bare feet as usual, jumped up on the pews and started screaming, "Pastor,"sertgbajcjnme;aft!" 

At least that is what I heard- it might have been English or Afrikaans for scorpion, but at that point all I knew is it was DANGER!  In the back of my head I thought, "What do you want ME to do about it?  I am more scared than you two!"

Then I calmly (I surprised myself by how calm I was) picked up the VERY long handled push broom and walked over and beat the thing to death.  

It seemed like it was in slow motion.  I thought about trying to sweep the thing out of the sanctuary but knew it would not solve the problem of it coming back in to the building, or save its life as another member of the church would kill it as soon as they found out I spared it.  And all the while I was asking it's ancestors, progeny, friends and relatives, God and all things nature to forgive me for my fear and violence and protect the children, as I imagined the thing jumping upon one of us and stinging.  Afterwards I had horrible feelings about being violent.  

Then I went over to Helga's house and we were working in the dark putting things away in the garage.  I saw another scorpion, again with the barefoot children, while we were using the flashlight to watch out for poisonous snakes.

  

Long handled broom, calm, beating, feeling bad, talking to the children about the sanctity of all life and the need to be and feel safe.  Teaching moments about violence and safety and fear and God's presence.  This time it was not quite as hard but it still felt bad.  But then taking a life, even to protect or save a life, should not feel good.

Then I saw this guy while on a walk just as I was going to cross the cattle gate to leave the church property.  Dead for no reason that I could see and out baking in the hot sun.  I felt sorry for it and realized that death, even by long handled broom by scared Pastor, is part of life.

I imagined how striking it would be alive (no pun intended) in color and in movement.  And pondered how it was neither the largest nor the smallest I had seen in the past week, but probably was just as poisonous, AND just as vulnerable.

According to Namibians there are two kinds of scorpions in Namibia, one is dangerous and one is VERY dangerous.  

I believe I met both kinds this week, and still I wish it could have turned out to be a more positive meeting for ALL of us.