We’ve had a lizard in the kitchen all week. Not one of those little green anoles that sometimes make their way into the house. This guy is almost eighteen inches long and he just hangs out on the kitchen counter. Now, to be fair, that is where his cage has been since we went home to Pennsylvania after Christmas to visit family. It was easier for one of my daughter’s friends to get in and out to take care of him by moving him into the kitchen, but he has yet to make it back upstairs to her room.
The funny thing is, I think he likes it. The other night, as I was making dinner, he was following me around with his eyes, and eventually by moving around in his terrarium to get a better view. I suppose the kitchen is like Grand Central Station compared to the quiet retreat of the back bedroom. He’s getting to do a lot of first-time people watching. It’s been fun having him here, although I’m about ready to have the counterspace back.
For those of you who don’t know about Teddy (the lizard), he’s a bearded dragon. I may have rambled about him once before, explaining that he was an “award” for completing a semester of swim team. That was almost a year ago when he fit in my hand with room to spare; he’s much bigger now. Teddy came into the house with a bit of reluctance on the part of the parental units in our family, but he’s really grown on us all (figuratively and literally!). Bearded dragons are the only known reptile to show affection to their human companions. That snake might curl around you, but it’s not giving you a hug. “Beardies”, on the other hand, like to snuggle.
Beardies are growing in popularity, too. This past Christmas season, one of the local pet stores had a whole section of bearded dragon Christmas attire and terrarium decorations. I confess, Teddy does own a Christmas sweater, and he also had a twelve-inch Christmas tree, with lights, next to his terrarium upstairs, although I did not acquire either. I draw the line at Christmas sweaters for dogs.
Teddy is a good object lesson for some of the things we hear about in scripture. Jesus asked us why we worry about what we will wear or what we will eat. After all, it’s not like we’re a cold-blooded Australian transplant that can’t survive in our climate or roam freely to hunt. But we do worry about our Christmas sweaters and the like, nonetheless. We are quite adaptable, as it turns out, too. We made it through one of the coldest spells since I’ve lived in South Georgia. (Is “cold spell” a phrase down here?). And we eat crickets or super worms, or whatever else we want. Wait, that’s what Teddy eats. Regardless, we eat whatever we can find, as is often put to the test shortly after New Year’s resolutions fail.
This Sunday is Epiphany Sunday for us, when we recall the star in the East that led the way to the Christ child. Teddy follows bright lights, too. Ok, he doesn’t worship the baby Jesus (as far as I know), but he loves his basking lamp. He’ll hang out right under it and get all warmed up and just veg out for most of the hours of the day. We all live under the bright light of the Son, and can find warmth and refreshment there if we are looking for it. Most of us don’t have the luxury of hanging out there all day, every day, but we do have our moments. Attending church this Epiphany Sunday might present just such an opportunity. Our prayers might include thanksgiving for the return of warmer weather, or the sun that chases away the gloom of winter that hangs over other places. On the other hand, they might be full of petitions for God to act in our lives in tangible ways. All is fair in prayer and worship.
After Christmas break, it’s right back to it. We are made to be active, to be out and about, and I’m sure God loves people-watching as much as the next deity. But every once in a while, I think God likes to see us stop, and look up, and bask in God’s love and glory. The stars are out, so to speak, this weekend. They hang above the altars at Christ Church and St. Ignatius (and still over the Holy Family in the churchyard). Maybe they are guiding you somewhere, too. Although Teddy won’t be at any of the altars, you’re welcome to come bask in his honor. O, star of wonder, star of light…
Tom+
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.