Demonstrate That He Doesn’t Belong

[318 words] The student came into my office yesterday with a surprise. “Excuse me, but there’s a snake in the hallway.” “What?” I asked. “Yeah! A snake, right outside your office door!” I opened the door, and sure enough, there was the foot-long garter snake, motionless in the middle of the hallway floor a full 50 feet from the front door. I deftly picked it up (the student said, “Eeewww!”) and took it outside, releasing it in our flower bed with the Vulcan gesture and farewell greeting, “Live long and prosper!” Returning to my office, I began to meditate about how often the spiritual Serpent has entered our Christian student center and how often he slithers into the church building. I know he must be a regular visitor at both places. In fact, he’s been sliding into the homes and assemblies of the righteous for eons, inflicting pain, suffering, and…