The Great Escape

The Great Escape
Evading the Enemy

​We walked the dark path between the Manager's house and our cottage at Amathunzi. The inky darkness shielded everything and made the short walk a little precarious. A small porch light in the distance marked our path to our room . A few steps into the dirt path we were greeted with several snorts. Uncertainty caused us to shine our flashlight in the direction of the sound. There stood a Bontebok.

It is a beautiful antelope with rich dark brown markings and spiral horns. Our light hit his face and he immediately cantered away. I was amazed at its speed in the darkness. It simply seemed to vanish. It left an unsettled feeling as he disappeared into the dark so quickly. Maybe he could reappear just as fast!

The next morning I went looking for the splendid animal in the sunlight. His dark brown coat had a purple gloss and clearly defined markings. He was darker on the sides with white buttocks and lower limbs. His unbroken white facial blaze and black horns carved a beautiful head and shape. 

This antelope was stunning and majestic. I walked closely and he began to stomp and snort as he had done the night before. I lifted my camera to take a picture and he exploded into a cantor and raced away. His unusual cantor made it appear effortless. It was as if he pranced in a tireless gate that accelerated with each jump.

The Bontebok had such speed that I wondered how prey could catch him and kill him for a meal. It would require stealth, speed and cunning. I thought of the Leopard we had watched during his hunt for food. Crouched low to the ground it crept along and stopped motionless on several occasions. The prey had no idea he was there. He waited as the slow grazing brought him near and he pounced.

We tend to have a false sense of safety concerning our enemy. Spiritually our enemy prowls around seeking someone that he might devour. What we fail to recognize is that we are his target. We think we can get away and avoid him if he comes near. Sometimes the spooking event is just a trap to capture us on the run. Evading the entanglement of sin requires careful observation, honest assessments and speed at the right moment. We must run just like the Bontebok! But timing is crucial!

Are you aware of the pitfalls in your daily life, thinking and feelings? Are you so consumed with satisfying your appetites that you don't notice the movement around you? We are told in God's Word to flee from sin. I see the Bontbok as one example of successful evasion from the perils of sin. He is attentive, forceful and has a twitch that is blinding.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

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