Lessons From Fleas!

Ack! Argh! Ick!

This past summer – and it’s a long story – we ended up with a flea infestation. It was AWFUL. When I say I would rather have an infestation of snakes than fleas, I am not kidding. Non-poisonous snakes, of course, but still.

My husband was on a consulting gig out of town which meant I had free rein to deal with this. (Notice the positive spin there.) So I went to the local Target and perused my options for dealing with these blood-sucking demons.

I opted for one of the eco-friendly, won’t-hurt-your-pets, products. There is a significant push to be environmentally friendly, especially when you can avoid toxic chemicals, so I thought I’d give it a try. My Internet research recommended LOTS of vacuuming so between my eco-friendly product and my trusty Kenmore vacuum, I finally got the infestation isolated to the foot of the basement stairs and the laundry room.

My Internet research also said to wear white socks so you could see if you were making any progress – well that’s not exactly how they put it but that’s the tactical implication. So I put a pair of white athletic socks at the foot of the stairs and faithfully pulled them on every morning and every evening to check progress. I vacuumed like a cleaning-obsessed fiend and sprayed my eco-friendly product like Coco Chanel sprayed perfume.

Turns out I was spending MASSIVE time vacuuming my socks. I was apparently not even putting a dent in the problem.  Now it was not spreading because of my fanatic processes but it was NOT getting any better. I was caught in a Groundhog Day worthy cycle.

Now I’m either patient or not very bright – or both – but finally after about 10 days of this morning and evening ritual, I had enough.  I went back to the Target and I bought the nastiest, most chemically laden can of Raid Flea Spray for Carpet I could find.  Actually, I bought TWO cans. And I went home and sprayed the h**l out of the laundry room and the associated stair carpet. And the white socks. And the vacuum cleaner. And it worked. My white socks no longer looked like speckled socks. Or almost black socks.

So often when I am faced with an “infestation” in my life – whether trouble or sin or anger – I turn to what is socially correct for a solution – I turn to what is “eco-friendly”. Sometimes it helps me isolate the “infestation” but I can never eradicate it.  It’s always there ready to jump up and bite me – to speckle my soul. It is only when I turn to something – or rather Someone – Who can completely eradicate that “infestation” do I see a true difference.  Only Jesus is able to break those recurring “infestations” that imprison me and keep me on a behavioral treadmill. Like the fleas, many of these “infestations” are not going to kill me but they keep me so preoccupied that my walk with Jesus is derailed and I become eternally non-threatening.

Jesus cleanses me and makes me whiter than snow; He creates a clean heart in me and renews a right spirit. (Psalm 51) Best part is He is non-toxic to me!