Our move to western Canada brought about a surprising complication: Apparently wild (and huge!) coyotes live within city limits!

My wife had been warned, but she didn’t take it as seriously as she probably should have and one day, our dog, who was apparently off-leash (but in an official off-leash area), was chased by one… But the coyote moved away when our dog, who is coyote size, was obedient to my wife’s call!

She played it safe for a few days after that. The dog wasn’t allowed off leash in that particular area. But when the coyotes were no longer heard howling at night, they returned to their normal habits.

A couple of weeks later, the dog was running free in a different official off-leash area along the river. Both my wife and the dog had fun, and later that week, they returned to the same spot with a friend. They went far onto the off-leash area when one of the area’s locals ran after them. The lady reported that there were aggressive coyotes in the area and that one had chased her Bernese Mountain Dog while it was on leash…

I would have taken it seriously and not returned, but my wife is cut out of a different fabric. She went back to the same area the very next day. This time she didn’t go out nearly as far and she said she was keeping a close eye on the, again, off-leash dog. Apparently someone again ran after her another time. This time not only did he report a coyote chasing a German Shephard on leash, but he showed her a picture … one he had just taken … of a coyote watching … our dog! The man said he thought there was a female coyote denning in the area and said he was going to report it to the wild life authorities.

To my wife’s credit, she didn’t try to go back down there for about a week, and the next time she came anywhere close, someone had posted a sign, across the river from: “Coyotes Denning in this area. Use caution as aggressive behaviour has been reported. Stay on trails and walk in groups. If approached, make yourself appear larger, wave arms and shout loudly.”

I am proud of my wife for turning back towards home then and there.

What was different this last time that finally made her understand she needed to use more caution?

It was the sign. If the threat was serious enough for the city to post the danger, she understood that it should be taken seriously!

My wife will be the first to admit that she is a risk taker, and I will admit that when she and I roamed the roads together, I sometimes even encouraged such behaviour. It appears that neither of us seem to learn very quickly. If it isn’t posted, nothing bad will happen! Unfortunately, this laissez-faire attitude carries over into our spiritual lives as well. No, there aren’t any coyotes denning in spiritual life; but there is a roaring lion: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). I know this. I’ve learned it — and believed it — since I was small. I understand the dangers of associating myself with the wrong company, of watching bad movies or reading iffy books. Nonetheless, part of me just figures. “it won’t happen to me!” I mean, can that TV show really be all that bad?

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a sign posted around all the things that could have a negative influence on our lives? Something like, “Devil lurking in this area. Use caution as people have recently been pulled away from the Lord in this area. Stay on the ‘narrow path’ and keep your eyes on Jesus. If approached, draw your ‘sword’ — Fight back with God’s power and the power of His Word!”

But there isn’t such a sign. Instead, we have something that, though less obvious, is truly better: We have God’s Spirit who will speak to our consciences: “Danger! Stay away!” The only problem is, so often we tune out that voice… Perhaps this is why the world’s wisest man warns, “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” (Proverbs 4:14-15 NIV), and the Apostle Paul says, “Flee the evil desires of youth …” (2 Timothy 2:22a NIV).

Easier said than done… Yet Paul gives us the way to do so in his next words: “… and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22b NIV)

Let’s commit to keeping our eyes on Jesus and fleeing the temptations of this world. Let’s strive to listen to God’s Spirit and follow His guidance. Let’s turn away from even the prospect of sin!

Oh, and maybe my wife will take the coyote threat more seriously in the future as well…

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Founder, Answers2Prayer Ministries