Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
It wasn’t long after Captain John Smith arrived in Jamestown, Virginia that he wrote the following description; “It “hath an head like a swine…tail like a rat…of the bigness of a cat.” We may not appreciate his style of writing but we must also admit his description of the Virginia Opossum is not too far from being right. This young one appeared in our yard looking like it had seen better days and would just as soon return to those former times and location. That also may not be far from the truth, for prior to the 1900s, they were only found in Central America and the southeastern part of the United States. Still, they are survivors. As the only marsupial in North America they fill a distinctive niche in our fauna.
They possess a number of qualities that make them unique. For example, they are at least partially immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and other pit vipers. They are eight times less likely to carry rabies than wild dogs. But the quality that many most closely associate with this creature is its ability to “play possum” when confronted with perceived danger. In this condition they involuntarily feign the look and smell of a sick or dead animal. In this state the animal’s teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth and the eyes are at least half closed. In this condition the animals can be poked or even moved without any reaction. Interestingly, in this catatonic state, its metabolism is as high as under normal conditions. Also of interest is the fact that although this condition is not arrived at as a matter of conscious decision, baby opossums do not always react in this manner. Apparently their brain has not yet developed this response.
At the risk of drawing unwarranted parallels, is it possible that we as humans come into this world with limited defense mechanisms in place? But as we get crunched, stepped upon, and in general devalued, we develop ways of coping with such rejection? It’s easy to see why parents teach their young children not to talk with strangers. We understand why schools practice lock-downs in case of intrusions. We are conditioned to protect ourselves.
It may be an oversimplification, but it appears God has a better way of dealing with fear and threats than playing possum. Notice how Jude 2 sums it up: “Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!” (The Message)