Pearl and the Snake

Have you ever been absolutely certain you were looking at one thing...only to discover it was something entirely different? Well, today's story proves that before you sound the alarm, it might be worth taking one more look. Then again...if you know Pearl Traveler, taking one more look probably wasn't an option! Let's head to Camp Bee for the unforgettable tale of Pearl and the Great Section A Snake Emergency.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hello, fellow sojourners. I'm your host, Dave Light, and welcome to Travel with a Purpose, a podcast designed to keep sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired. It didn't take long before Earl and Pearl Traveler were settling into the rhythm of sojourner life at Camp B. Earl had mastered the coffee pot. Miles, their little white poodle, had established himself as neighborhood security. Miss Gypsy, their orange tabby cat, had claimed the best shady spot under the RV. And Pearl, as always, was operating with a purpose. Well one particular morning, Pearl was headed to the lodge to cook some bacon for their breakfast. It was early, very early. The sun was barely peeking over the trees. Birds were just beginning to chirp. Most of section A was still deep in peaceful slumber. Earl naturally was snoring contentedly. Earl quietly opened the RV door, determined not to wake him. She stepped down carefully, adjusted her travel with a purpose shirt, and began making her way through the dim early light. Now, Section A had many wonderful qualities friendly people, good shade, close proximity to the lodge. But after a windy East Texas evening, it also had something else tree debris, little branches, twigs, leaves, nature's obstacle course. Pearl shuffled forward, thinking mainly about biscuits, gravy, and a side of bacon. And then she saw it just ahead on the ground, long, dark. Her lying silently across her path. Pearl froze. Her eyes widened. Her heart practically filed an emergency report. And then she screamed. Not a normal scream, not a startled squeak. It was a full volume county line crossing. Wake the dead from the cemetery across Cook's Road. Dogs were howling. Birds scattered. That's the level of that scream. Snake RV doors burst open. Miles began barking like he was defending the free world. Miss Gypsy launched onto Earl's chest inside the RV, causing him to wake up shouting, I didn't hit the waterline. Jay from across camp sat upright in bed. Carroll reportedly said, What has Earl done now? Within minutes, such an A looked like a tactical response team in pajamas. Pearl stood a safe distance away, pointing dramatically. There, right there. A crowd gathered cautiously. Jay, trying to maintain some dignity while wearing plaid pajama pants, slowly approached the danger. He shined his flashlight. Everyone leaned in. Silence. Then Jay bent down and picked it up. He held it high for all to see. A tree branch. Not a snake. Not even remotely alive. Just an ordinary, slightly crooked, fallen tree branch. For three full seconds nobody spoke. Then Earl, now fully awake and still wearing one boot and one bedroom slipper, squinted and said that branch nearly took us all out. Everyone began laughing, and Earl, to her credit, did not miss a beat. She crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and declared, Well, if Section A wasn't trying to look like a snake sanctuary, this wouldn't have happened. Sheila Little, standing nearby, said, Pearl, you're the only woman I know who can scare a tree branch into becoming firewood. And just like that, Pearl went from startled victim to determined organizer. Immediately after breakfast, Pearl had launched what would forever be remembered as the Great Section A cleanup campaign. Pat Rains showed up armed with gloves, trash bags, rakes, and enough determination to frighten actual snakes. Pearl organized volunteers from every nearby campsite. Pick up every stick. No twig left behind. If it looks like a snake, remove it. Soon Section A was buzzing. Earl hauled limbs, Jay brought tools, and Carroll directed traffic like a colonel overseeing military operations. And by noon, Section A was the cleanest section Camp B had ever seen. Not a stick, not a branch, not even a suspicious pine cone remained, and some clumps of grass were pondered over as to their necessity. And from that day on, whenever winds blow through Camp B and branches fall in section A, someone inevitably says Better pick that up before Pearl sees another snake. You know, every sojourner has a story like this. Maybe it wasn't a snake. Maybe it was something else. It seemed like a disaster at the time, but became a favorite memory later. That's one of God's little gifts. He has a way of weaving laughter into our journey. Sometimes the moments that embarrass us the most become the stories we enjoy telling the most. So don't take yourself too seriously. Enjoy the journey. Laugh with your friends, and thank God for the memories He gives us along the way. Well, thanks for listening to this podcast. I invite you to subscribe and share it with others. I'm your host Dave Leighton, and remember, we glorify God as together we travel with a purpose. Happy sojourning!