FOXY

“The fox provides for himself, but God provides for the lion.” William Blake

My siblings and I recently scattered the ashes of our brother after a Celebration of Life with family and friends. And the fox returned.

On the morning of the day they discovered our brother’s body - lifeless - a fox entered the yard, gazed around and disappeared into the forest. According to Thai culture, there is a mythology that the cycle of life, also called samsara, is a belief that souls continue on after death, born into a new life. Although people are influenced by Buddhism, many native Indigenous peoples also believe in the afterlife. Even though these beliefs vary from tribe to tribe, they believe the souls of the dead pass into the spirit world. Some believe that the fox was a reminder that my brother has gone, but was there to remind us that he exemplified the traits of a fox and was not to be forgotten.

As Christians, we too believe in the spiritual. It’s a battle that we engage in with the enemies of darkness every day. But we put on the armor of the Living God and take up our Sword of His Word and the shield of faith. God established both the fox and the lion.

When we read Psalm 24, God reminds us

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
  who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

Being “foxy” may be evident in many lives as we strive to do things on our own, to figure it out and to rely on ourselves, until we realize the need to be lionlike. We need a boldness in our faith and a recognition of the majesty of the King of glory. When you “go on your own” - your soul will eventually long for the lion.

Oh, that we may roar like the lion and declare our faith, so others will come to know Jesus!