This afternoon we went for a walk along the road and I noticed the nests of tent caterpillars in the bushes.

After these nasty creatures mature enough exit their nests, they head up the nearest tree and proceed to devour all its leaves.

A large number of caterpillars means by the middle of June our trees will look like it is January with no leaves left.

A few years back on a Sunday afternoon I went out, cut down all those tent nests and crushed all the caterpillars.

As time progressed, the forests on either side of our land lost all their leaves while  ours remained lush and green

Timely action averted a tree catastrophe.

This brought a comparison to mind. These little tent caterpillars are like “minor sins,”

seemingly unimportant, harmless as they are common, like

—complaining (thanklessness)

—Lying (telling ourselves it’s horrible, when it’s only a minor disappointment)

—criticizing, speaking negatively (ignoring all the good God gives us)

—following our feelings rather than truth.

Small in the eyes of people, big in the eyes of God,

for each one springs from unbelief, rebellion and selfishness.

If we don’t crush these caterpillar sins quickly, the damage will grow and grow

destroying all the leaves on our spiritual trees.

Tomorrow we will talk about how to crush these and protect yourself.

picture: tent caterpillar nest.