Chaplain Corner Submissions - Ben Caudill Chaplain's Corner

PIG IN A POKE

Sometimes you don’t know from which direction a lesson will come. One of the lessons for life was taught to me by an animal. You see, for awhile I lived with my uncles. They were are confirmed bachelors and lived on a mountain farm. They always had farm animals around the old place and it was my responsibility to feed them. I love animals and was particularly fond of an old sow that I called Wilma. She would start grunting as soon as she saw me walking towards the hog lot with my slop bucket full of goodies. While she ate I would lean over the fence and pat her fat sides.

I remember when she had a litter of pigs. They were so cute and would follow her everywhere. On occasion I could reach into the lot and pet the one I called Feisty. He was black and white with big eyes and rooted like a big pig. I thought someday I would buy him and make a pet out of him. That day never came because when the piglets were being weaned my uncles decided to sell them. My protests and pleas went unheeded.

I recall a big red Ford truck coming up the driveway. A leathered man, seasoned by the sun, stepped out of his truck and walked to the house. My uncles greeted him and soon the topic of discussion was the pigs. The man wanted one and said he didn’t want the runt. In fact he stated he wanted to pick out the pig. We walked down to the hog lot and I was told to call old Wilma from the pen. As soon as she heard my voice, she and her little ones ran down the hill. I offered her slop as a detractor. As soon as she was busy eating, my uncle asked the man which one he wanted. Without hesitation he pointed to Feisty. My heart sank but I knew I had to not say anything or catch a tanning. My uncle nodded, took the man’s money and shook his hand. Then he told me to grab the pig while handing me a burlap bag. He knew I was to only one able to get close to those pigs without an uproar from Wilma. I hesitated and caught a more determined command from my uncle. I bent over the fence, patted my girl and then grabbed the little guy against his protests, placed him in a poke and started across the bridge. His squeals became more desperate and they did not go unheeded by his mother.

I can still see it in my mind’s eye. The old sow raised her noble head, let out a squeal of indignation and before anyone could blink, jumped over the fence. I saw her land on that old foot bridge and took off flying while screaming at the top of my lungs. The little pig in the poke was squealing at the top of his lungs and ole Mother Wilma was gaining ground. Her transformation from that gentle hog that I would pat to this demon possess porker terrified me. I am sure I was praying for intervention as I realized Wilma was breathing down my neck in hot pursuit.

In the distance I saw my uncle and the man. Both of them were screaming at the top of their lungs. Finally I understood what they were saying. In a loud united voice, they were saying, “Boy, drop the pig poke and run in the house”!

I did exactly what they told me. It was then that I saw my mother running towards the old sow with broom in hand. She was as determined as that pig was in protecting her offspring. I had no doubt who would win and I was right. Wilma and Feisty made a hasty retreat towards the safety of the hog lot’s open gate. To this day I am careful what I put in a bag.

Have you ever carried around something and wondered why the devil was chasing you? How simple it is to simply ‘drop the bag’ and seek the safe shelter of our Master’s arms. The Bible states that when you call upon the name of the Lord, you will be saved. He will rescue you from your troubles, as He sees fit to do so. In my time of despair, like my mother, He was there. After all, mom sure looked like an angel to me with that broom drawn back running between me and ole Wilma!

Occasionally we carry around our sins in a bag with the devil chasing us and become our own worst enemies. 1 Peter 5:7 informs us that we need to give our burdens to God for he truly cares for our well being. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” This we know: God truly cares about every living creation. Read the words of Luke 12:6-7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

So dear friend, let us follow the examples given us and, as in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Being careful about the pig in the poke, I remain the Old General