Last summer I was outside. I know. Not my usual place. I’m a stay-inside-the-climate-controlled-environment kind of gal. But despite the fact that they’re outside, I do love my flowers. A rumble had started between my flowers and a gang of big, ugly weeds, so I went out to try to break it up.

That’s when I noticed a flamingo in the yard. Not a yard ornament. A real one. I’m thinking, “What’s a flamingo doing here?” Then it hit me that it wasn’t actually a flamingo. It was a mosquito. A flamingo-sized mosquito. That sucker was big enough to ride. I didn’t have a saddle, so I took what I considered the most logical course of action. I ran. I really ran. I ran like a cheap pair of pantyhose. It was probably the most exercise I’d gotten all summer.

It’s important to know when to run. The Bible tells us to run away from temptation, for instance. Second Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart,” (NKJV).

Sometimes we stand and fight sin. Ephesians 6:10-11 tells us to be strong and to stand. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes,” (NIV). It’s a rumble we can win, but not in our own muscle. Victory is only in the power of Christ.

So sometimes we’re instructed to flee. Sometimes stand. How do we know when to stand and when to run? We study God’s Word and we allow his Holy Spirit to give us all the right cues. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust the Lord to direct us–and he will. “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths,” (AMP).

Standing when we’re supposed to stand and running when we’re supposed to run. It’s great to do the right thing at the right time.

And for your summer reference, the right thing to do when you see a flamingo in the yard is to run. Especially if you don’t have a saddle. I’ve heard they’re difficult to tame.

Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com