by Brenda Black
The roly poly member of the squirrel
family will make his grand appearance come Feb. 2. Top-hat clad men
of standing will encircle Punxsutawney Phil, in Punxsutawney, PA,
awaiting the rodent's prediction. If the groundhog sees his shadow on
Feb. 2, winter’s midpoint, he will become afraid and return to his
burrow for the next six weeks until winter is over. If the groundhog
does not see his shadow on the other hand, spring is said to be near.
That's all find and dandy and gives
folks a fun reprieve from the mid-seasonal slump between Christmas
getting and Valentine giving. I agree festivities centered on the
cuteness of a groundhog seem quaint. They are snuggly in appearance
with a broad head, tiny ears and a plump body plopped on short legs
that makes waddling their favored gait. But to give this rotund
critter such a place of honor is a bit baffling to me. For all that
is glorified in a woodchuck is looked down upon in the rest of
society.
He gets all kinds of positive
attention for his sturdy silhouette while we humans constantly fight
the battle of the bulge. I've seen my shadow and sometimes I wonder
if someone isn't walking next to me! And no one has patted me on the
back or tossed me a cracker for being not-so-slender. One little
furry marmot kept in captivity is said to have blossomed to an
enormous 37 pounds. That's nearly six times the normal size! Imagine
the outcry of a human weighing in at at one thousand!
To his dubious credit, Mr. Groundhog
also sleeps a good portion of the year. During the winter, the round,
brown burrower drifts into a deep three-month slumber, surviving off
its summer fat stores. His heart rate and breathing slow to an
unbelievable pace. Once every four or five minutes, the heart will
beat and about every six minutes, Chubs will take in a deep breath.
Then his body temperature plummets to 40 degrees. I feel guilty if I
sleep in an extra hour in a week! And I sure can't imagine being so
unavailable for such an extended hiatus. This woodchuck truly knows
how to check out.
When he's not donning a tuxedo or
propped on top of a sun dial, a groundhog not hibernating fills his
days with destruction. Many a farmer has seen the damage around barn
foundations where this cuddly little terror has practiced demolition.
Enthusiastically he digs his den for dining and sleeping without
thought for the human's property. A person, on the other hand, acting
so carelessly would face a lawsuit from the angry landowner, not be
touted as a rock star every February second.
Wouldn't life be grand if we could
just eat and sleep and tear up the turf with our claws and teeth?
Some days I think that might not be so bad. But I'm not a large rat.
I'm human. And God expects a little bit more from those He created in
His image. So this Feb. 2, no matter the shadowy outcome, we need to
seize the moment. Six more weeks of winter not wasted or spring
around the corner awaiting great things. The bottom line is that
whether the weather is fierce or mild, we still need to take one day
at a time and live it to the fullest rather than live it like a
groundhog.
“For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the
blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,
eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)
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