Green-eyed Monster

Green-Eyed Monster

God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms.

Genesis 1:21

Spring had sprung, and everything was blooming, creeping out, and emerging from its long winter’s rest. We had been out to dinner at one of our neighborhood restaurants. After arriving home, I went upstairs to prepare for bed.

Opening the door to my walk-in closet, I flipped on the light—and froze as I stared into the bulging eyes of a green-eyed monster perched on top of my clothes. It looked like a giant-sized Geico Gecko but without the smile! I gasped and stumbled backward out of the closet. Then I peered cautiously around the door frame, hoping I had just imagined the long-tailed creature. But, no, he was a glistening, green reality.

I turned and ran for the stairs, yelling at my sister as I went, “Charlotte, help! There’s a Gila monster in my closet!” It wasn’t really a Gila monster, but that’s all I could think of at that panicky moment. It was some kind of large lizard—about fifteen inches long and five inches tall at the head. But it looked like a small dinosaur to me!

Now, I don’t do lizards, no matter what size they are. So I called my neighbor Jeff, who used to own a fish and reptile store. He came over immediately, took one look at the lizard, grinned, and asked me for a pillowcase. He put his hand down inside the pillowcase, calmly reached out, and picked up the lizard, turning the pillowcase inside out and capturing the lizard inside. He later released it miles away by a creek.

Sometimes I wonder, God, are Gila monsters really necessary in this world? Or did you create them just for a few grins? But I guess that’s why he’s God and why I’m good for a few laughs.

Thank you, God, for all your creatures, even when I don’t understand why they’re needed. I know that each one, even those I don’t like, has a special purpose in your mind and reflects your infinite creativity. Amen.