Читать книгу Mustard Seeds - Melissa Levi - Страница 37

Home Invasion

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:29a

This morning I went about my usual routine of flipping on lights, starting the coffee and turning on the TV to listen to the news. Then, as was customary, I opened the front door, unlatched the storm door and pushed it open. I expected to see the outdoor cats run in single file and head for their bowl just inside the kitchen.

However, this morning they did not.

“Kitty, Kitty!” My shrill invitation went out into the pre-dawn gloom.

Yet, Dot nor Henry answered the call. Instead, from the darkness a form moved into the pale light, and crossing over the threshold he sauntered into my home. I stared in disbelief, my jaw slack, my knees weak and my heart pounding in my ears. He turned his head and then rolled his black orbs to look at me. His mouth spread wide into a grin and he panted from recent exertion. I backed away, my knees banging on the corner of the loveseat. As I did, he moved further into the house.

My mind reeled as I played out possible scenarios. Would the girls awake and come into the living room and incite him to attack? Would Emma the Terrible finish her breakfast and come from the back of the house and irritate him with her barking?

As my thoughts faded and I focused on him, he moved closer to me. I stood rigid, fixed on his eyes, trying to read his intent.

Closer he moved, nostrils flaring, as he took in the scent. Finally, I felt his hot breath on my hand and I trembled. He nudged me. I stifled a cry by biting my lip and felt my calf muscles press into the couch. He pressed closer and I had nowhere to go.

Then, I remembered the treats in my bathrobe pocket for Emma and the Assassins. I slipped my hand into the pocket and three little morsels dotted my palm. It took all my strength to extend my hand before him. His muzzle, soft and hot took my meager offering, his eyes never left mine. I swallowed hard and side stepped him, pushing the storm door open. He disappeared as stealthy as he came back into the blackness.

I fell back onto the loveseat and covered my face with quivering hands. I began to laugh the nervous laugh we do when we know how close to a real danger we have been. I had trouble grasping the event that had just happened. How or why had this pit bull found his way to my front door and then into my house?

He had just entered into the house, brazenly without any sense of fear. The door was open and he walked inside.

As I sat on the couch willing my heart to return to normal rhythm, I thought about the audacity of this act. The sheer audacity reminded me of how sin boldly enters into our lives. All it takes is a crack, a gap in the door and it is inside.

Maybe it started as a harmless flirtation on Facebook. Possibly, just a five-dollar bill from the till went unnoticed, and before you knew It, you had taken several fives. Possibly it was just a case of venting frustration that became malicious gossip against a friend. Perhaps that injury has healed, but the sweet oblivion of the pain pills is too hard to resist. The heat of numbness as the alcohol spreads through your blood dulls the regrets and blurs the pain of yesterday. Whatever gap may be at your door, Jesus knows how to close it. All you have to do is ask.

Jesus is ready and waiting for you to turn it all over to Him.