“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21, NIV).

     I have a dear friend who is now a retired United Methodist pastor. Before he became a pastor, Russ was a commander for a Marine combat unit. Russ served in Vietnam during the most heated years of battle. While on patrol one evening, Russ’ platoon came under heavy fire. For hours, Russ’ men fought valiantly. During the battle, a North Vietnamese combatant was injured. He was taken captive by American forces. As a U.S. military officer, Russ was directed by the Geneva Convention to offer this enemy soldier first aid and food. A medical helicopter was brought in to airlift the wounded out. Russ was standing near the enemy soldier as he was being carried on a gurney. Just before being transported, the soldier spoke the following words in Vietnamese: người mỹ tốt, which means, “Americans are good.”

“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’” (Luke 15:20-21,MSG).

     People are interesting. The National Parks Service recently issued a warning to refrain from licking the Sonoran Desert Toad. Apparently, some tourists have been licking the toxins emitted behind the toad’s eyes for its powerful psychedelic effects. The toad’s secretions reportedly cause euphoria and strong auditory hallucinations.

“ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15, ESV)

     In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis, M.D., observed a disturbing trend. New mothers were dying of fever at an alarming rate at a maternity clinic in Vienna. Semmelweis discovered that prior to delivery, doctors were not washing their hands. The doctor hypothesized these obstetricians were spreading foreign bodies to the mothers.

“When [Jesus] was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult… (1 Peter 2:23, NIV).

     I overheard a conversation a few days ago between a mom and her pre-K son. Mom was reprimanding the boy for taking an unauthorized package of chocolate chip cookies from the grocery shelf. The young man defiantly looked at her and spouted, “Well, what about daddy? He buys cookies and you don’t get mad at him.” Dad was standing only feet away as his wife glared in his direction. I imagine it was a long drive home for all of them.

     A few weeks ago, I was tuning my snow blower in preparation for the winter months. I changed the oil and air filter. Yet when it came time to lubricate the auger I couldn’t find the WD-40. WD-40 has been my faithful companion when it comes to fixing things that squeak and stick.