I was to the point of crossing WalMart off my list as a place for shopping. Since I spend some time in the “woods” I am not unfamiliar with snakes – of all sorts – but I certainly don’t want to worry about being snake bitten while buying tooth paste and hair spray.

Fortunately I read a couple of stories that have relieved my concern.

The Standard-Examiner of Utah reports the man was at Wal-Mart May 11 when he reached down for what ended up being a 20-inch long brown rattlesnake. Craig said he was at the store looking for mulch to grow medical marijuana.

Obviously he was a bit too “laid back” and “moving slow” after sampling too much of his product. Since I am as fast as ever when being pursued by rattlesnakes, I should be OK on that front.

The other story must have been a total fabrication -

From Goose Creek, S.C., WJBF (a radio station) reported in September 2009 on the story of a man in his mid-30s who, while shopping at WalMart, was bitten by a copperhead rattlesnake. . .

Any person with “snake sense” knows there is no such “animal.” One or the other, maybe, but I am going to assume the whole story was a ruse to damage America’s favorite shopping place.

Of course you can be “bitten” by the “snake” of Scriptural renown. I suggest you keep your eyes and ears open, stay close to your Church, and talk often with our lloving Father. I assure you that “bite” can put some hurt on you!

We all know what it is like to forgive (or at least we ought to). Going to someone, or having that individual come to you, and practicing forgiveness, is a mandatory spiritual activity.

I am convinced there is a different kind of forgiveness as well. Sometimes there are breaches of friendship, words spoken in haste, slights that hurt, condemnations, anger, misunderstandings, inappropriate commentary, and such like, things that demand forgiveness lest any “root of bitterness” grow.

Often times these kinds of difficulties are never talked about – almost as if, on the part of one or the other, knowledge of the “sin” remains unknown and certainly un-discussed. Still, forgiveness must be distributed, and forgetfulness must follow. It is easy to wait – hope for healing words – but they may never come. So, the forgiveness must be “in us” now. And it must be complete, and choosing to remember the circumstance no more, appropriated.

If that is unclear – you probably have never discovered this “different forgiveness.” And, somewhere deep inside you, there is resentment, bitterness, darkness, and pain.

It’s best to learn about it now. Failure in this matter kills joy and peace.