Squirrels, Squawkers, and Sneeze Spots

By Laura J. Bagby
CBN.com Sr. Producer

CBN.com – OK, I just got those disbelieving eyes again. That’s twice in one day. And the day is only barely half over.

The first shocked look came today after one of my fellow producers thought it was hilarious that some woman was actually talking to the pigeons outside on the CBN grounds and I was sticking up for the “crazy lady.”

I told her in all seriousness that I unashamedly talk to animals, too. Stunned, she told me half seriously not to say anymore in case it changed the way she viewed me. Too late: I had too many good stories to tell, and I was already perched on my soap box.

So much for making a good impression! But this isn’t anything new. I thought to myself, smiling, You are just finding this out about me? Have you been hiding under a rock?

I am no stranger to the ways of Dr. Doolittle. In fact, just about every day on my way to class as a Regent University student, some kamikaze squirrel would inevitably decide to do a death run to the other side of the street, right in front of me. I can’t recall the number of times I braked, rolled down the window of my car, and yelled, “Today is not your day to die; get back over to the curb!” The squirrel had enough sense to get out of the middle of the road. I mean really – a therapy session is what it became. I should charge for this kind of advice. (Of course, I would get paid in acorns.)

And, yes, I often voice my authority over those offending geese that like to hog the gravel path that leads to the back door of my building at work. So many timid coworkers complain about those rotten Canadian squawkers and how they like to nip and hiss at you. But not me. I don’t let them. I just walk straight down that path in my high heels and say with all the boldness I can muster, “I have dominion over you birds according to the Bible, so move it!” I might get some quizzical stares – from people, not the geese – but those birds skedaddle.

I distinctly remember praying in our staff meeting one day for a coworker’s cat. The request was that the cat, which I will call Simon, would please stop attacking the birds in the yard. So, that day I prayed just that, despite some of the snickers I heard. Do you know that that cat stopped hunting for at least two weeks after that prayer? God cares for the lowly beings just as He cares for us.

And it isn’t the first time God has answered my prayers for pets, either. My former roommate’s dog, Frupper (read more about him here), could have lost his vision in one eye due to a very deep cat scratch. But a prayer of healing between me and my roommate at the time, and Frupper didn’t need expensive surgery.

The resident Animal Whisperer – that’s me – might get those looks that say “weird,” “quirky,” or “unique, ” but eventually you just get used to them. It makes for some interesting water cooler stories - and articles like this one.

Something to Sneeze About

My next faux pas came after my own explanation for one of my sneezes. When it's rainy and overcast, the mold and mildew in the air vents at work tend to irritate, so you will hear a syncopated cacophony of sneezes from my surrounding workmates. On days like that, I officially call our Producer’s Row of offices the “Sneeze Pit” because the a-chews seem to hover. You can almost time it between sneezes in this section of my department. Get the Lysol quick!

But I have a theory. And I wonder if there are other people like me in the world who experience this same thing. Sometimes a sneeze has everything to do with accidentally triggering a sneeze spot. That's right: I said sneeze spot.

I tried to explain this to another coworker that same day and I was met with peals of laughter.

“What is a sneeze spot?” she asked between fits of giggles.

“Well,” I thought, pausing to clarify, “don’t you have those places on your face where if you scratch them, you sneeze? I guess it has to do with my sinus cavities.”

An incredulous look and then more explosive laughter, followed by, “I sometimes sneeze when I look at the sun.”

I had actually heard about that whole sun-sneeze connection before. I few minutes later, I had to laugh, too.

Ah, the blessings of humor. You know, even if no one around you laughs at those crazy comments you make and outlandish things you do, isn’t it good to be able to laugh at yourself?

Laughter is good medicine; I believe that. If I can spread a little chuckle and cheer in the midst of a dry day, then all the better.

When everything is always serious, we can lose the beauty of those silly, everyday moments. We miss the lighter side of life when we get so pressured with the deadlines and towing the party line and making sure we don’t make mistakes. We often end up stressed beyond our limits. We gain life and maybe liberty, but that pursuit of happiness is hidden under days of crabbiness.

Take a moment to recall those things in your day and see the humor in them. Perhaps God is trying to tell you through that humorous moment that He desires you to have life to the full today. The abundant life is so much more than a decent paycheck, a nice home, and other trappings of success.

Let joy bubble forth and unashamedly be who God created you to be – quirky and all!

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting (Psalm 126:2a).

Comments? E-mail me.

How to Give Your Life to Christ:

1. Admit you are a sinner and need forgiveness.

2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

3. Through prayer, confess that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and commit to live for Him for the rest of your life.

What to Pray:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please send us an e-mail to let us know. Or you can call our CBN Prayer Counseling Center at (800) 759-0700. We would love to talk with you and send you some resources to help you begin your walk with the Lord.