From The Backwoods Pew

Ditch Banks

drain water away from fields, or out of the woods. These drains move the water into a swamp or a river.

In many jobs, The apparent purpose for these there may be a cer- ditches, besides moving water, is to tain task which car- grow frogs. You can come up to any ries with it a higher ditch in the woods during February sense of danger, a and crack the ice with your boot, place where you and from out of nowhere a frog will pay a little more jump through the newly made hole attention to being safe. Maybe it is Antill while saying, “Thanks!” Along with frogs come snakes. dropping frozen fries into hot On the ditch bank the forester has a grease or taking a box off the top chance to procure a story to tell at storage shelf or maybe putting lunch, or a chance to become part of paper in the copier. Logging is con- the story told at his eulogy. Snakes sidered one of the most dangerous will curl up on the top of the ditch occupations, in large part due to the bank, in the debris along the edges environment in which it takes place. of the ditch, in the water, or among The wilderness has many hidden the exposed roots of the trees lining dangers. Old snags (dead trees), the ditch. They are there looking for grapevines, stump holes and quick- lunch. The forester, attempting to sand are all present in the eastern cross the ditch, must usually step Coastal Plains; and the forester on across to the unseen bank on the foot, or the logger in his machine, is other side. He may have to step wise to look out for all of them. I down into the bottom of the ditch have seen brush wrap up a bulldoz- and thus be at eyeball-level with er to the point it over-heated, and any snake on the bank. In stepping set itself and the surrounding woods down, he has also brought the back on fire. Stump holes have “eaten” of his leg into exposure to any foresters and cutting machines snake he is stepping over. And last alike! Old snags break off and fall but not least, if he has to climb out unexpectedly; and grapevines can of the ditch, he will be placing his bring multiple trees down when hands on the ground at the top of only one is being prepared for. the ditch bank.

In many old forests and farms, At the ditch, the forester is a taryou will find ditches. Many of these get, and the snake is the assassin, were dug back in colonial days to hidden and waiting to strike. The forester must be on alert when he arrives at a ditch. Being careless, or distracted, will carry consequences. One such ditch in South Carolina comes to my mind even now. I had one foot on the bottom of the ditch, working my way through knee-deep water to the other side, when I saw the assassin. He was watching me from behind some grass, about waist-level high on the other side of the ditch; he was close enough to reach out and touch. Another day, on another ditch, I found another snake curled up and watching, right where the path went down to the water.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.— Psalm 17: 4, 5

Our journey in life will cause us to cross many “ditches.” These are the places where we will find ourselves in danger.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; they have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places.—Psalm 17: 8-12

Ditch crossings are where the accuser lurks, where he waits for us to be careless. Maybe it is the laptop, a cell phone, or “pad” you use to browse online. A simple click, idle curiosity, and you get bit. Pornography is a scourge on our families, and one of the serpent’s most effective strikes. Maybe it is the way a co-worker likes to hug, and the hugs begin to last a little longer, a touch that lingers. Lunches turn out to be company-sanctioned dates, and another marriage fails, while we wring our hand from the serpent’s bite.

No one is immune. The best snake boots will not protect a carelessly placed hand grabbing a root to get out of a ditch. Snake leggings will not protect the back of your thigh as you slide down the ditch bank. When you are eyeball-to-eyeball with a snake sitting high on a bank, no body armor will protect your neck. You are exposed to danger, from the most guarded to the most careless. Once we understand that we are vulnerable, that we cannot defeat this enemy on our own regardless of our church attendance,then we are at the point of getting help.

Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword…—Psalm 17: 13

Call upon God. His sword is his

Word. It is with God’s Word that the ditch bank can be cleared, and a crossing can be made in safety.

Keep your eyes on God. The serpent is waiting for you. He knows your habits and your pride. Don’t linger at the ditches of life and risk getting bit. Run to Jesus. Let that be the story you tell others at lunch; instead of others talking about you and how you ruined your life, and who secured custody of your kids.

Excerpted from Reflections on Rebellion and Redemption, Bradley W. Antill, author. Find it and other forestry devotional books at www.onatreeforestry.com

Brad Antill has been a forester in the woods and swamps of the Southeast Coastal Plain for over 30 years. Be sides being a forester, he is also an or dained minister of the Gospel, and to gether they combine as his two passions. He and his wife Cindy creat ed On-A-Tree Forestry as a way of sharing his unique views of the gospel story. They share the fingerprints of God that are revealed every day in those same woods and swamps. Brad is a graduate of The Ohio State University forestry program, and a registered forester in North Carolina and West Virginia.