Foxes of Discouragement

Foxes of Discouragement

New Year’s Eve in Australia is always a warm, summer’s evening. Outdoor activities and fireworks in cities and towns across the nation are all part of bringing in the new year with gusto. This past New year’s eve, my husband and I, headed to a peaceful bay just north of our home. It was a warm, sunny afternoon. The beautiful, large spreading trees shaded soft, green grasses by a peaceful beach of gentle lapping waters. People were starting to arrive as we parked our car and hauled our picnic chairs, table, and food out of the car. We set up a perfect picnic spot overlooking the sparkling, azure waters, under the cool of the trees, along with many others. Street entertainers provided music, balloons, bubbles and “magic tricks”. There was laughter and friendship.The atmosphere was happy, families gathered, friends talked, people who had never met before chatted with one another, children splashed by the waters edge and played in the sand as we all picnicked together and watched the sun slowly setting. In the gathering dark many children brought out their glowsticks; the fluorescent colours being waved around excitedly, brightening the blackening night. With an expected bang the sky lit up with the wonder of colour as  fireworks exploded before our eyes and the crowds gasped in delight.It was all over way too soon and in the darkness we all started to pack up and leave.

Our drive home took us on quiet, lonely, country roads with no street lights. The  trees of the Australian bush flanked the sides of the narrow road and my husband drove with caution as this is the time that kangaroos, koalas  and other animals can be found crossing the road. Suddenly a red fox appeared on the road, it’s eyes glowing in our car headlights. It stopped, mesmerised. My husband braked and swerved slightly to avoid colliding with the stationary fox, but it panicked and dashed back towards the direction we had swerved. Thud! Crunch! We hit it hard. It’s poor little body shattered instantly to pieces under the left side of the bumper bar of our car. The bumper cracked, lights broke and over $1000 worth of damage occurred, but we were safe and the car was still able to be driven.

I was tempted to feel so discouraged. Insurance covered the damage but in Australia, to access our insurance, we need to pay a lump sum called an excess, which was $650. A sum of money we couldn’t really afford to part with. I was tempted to lose my joy in the Lord. The Bible talks about foxes and grape vines. Jesus is the grape vine and we live a connected life to Him like a branch to the vine. The foxes in the bible were running through the vineyard spoiling the young vines that were in flower, damaging the branches. Do you sometimes feel discouraged , you’re losing your joy and things just seem to be going wrong? Are there “foxes” in your life trying to disconnect you from the vine, knocking the flowers out of your life that will produce the fruit of joy, love and peace within? Look to Jesus. He will deal with the “foxes” in your life. Will I choose to stay connected to Him? Will you?

Song of Sol 2:15 "Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.