A couple of weeks ago, I was mowing around a tank in my pasture when a skunk emerged from the tall grass about ten feet from me. It scared me, and I couldn’t figure out how to turn my mower around fast enough. I was mowing around the tank again this past weekend and kept my eye out, thinking I would see a skunk again in the same place, but no skunk.  

I have been mowing the same pasture and around the same tank for over 20 years, and that was the first time I had ever seen a skunk and been that close to one around the tank.  

Why did I think I would see a skunk?  

The skunk is like negative words or actions that we may experience.  We may have never experienced them before, but after they occur, we keep our eye out, thinking they will happen again.

We rarely think about all the past years when the adverse actions or words didn’t occur and the past when we experienced positive actions or words.  

Like me sneaking up on a skunk, it was a once-in-20-year occurrence. 

My challenge to each of us is not to let the skunks in our lives rule our lives.  Yes, they may happen occasionally but don’t allow yourself to believe that you will always see a skunk once you see it. 

Your Friend,

Aaron