How to Respond to Snake Talk
(August 20-31 I’ll be blogging my way through I Blame Eve: Freedom from Perfectionism, Control Issues, & the Tendency to Listen to Talking Snakes by Susanna Foth Aughtmon and giving away a copy each week! You can enter the drawing via the Rafflecopter at the end of each blog post or right here.)
“…this talking snake really sounds like he know what he’s talking about. Before we know it, we can be charmed by the snake and his twisted truths. All too quickly, we forget the words of the Creator and start listening to the words of the snake.…”
Susanna Foth Aughtmon, I Blame Eve:Freedom from Perfectionism, Control Issues, & the Tendency to Listen to Talking Snakes
Yesterday was the first day of school.
I’d finished all lesson prep Sunday night so I could focus on people in the morning.
I’m so achievement-oriented, I’ve gotta remind myself daily: I don’t teach English; I reach individuals.
So I got up early Monday to pray for my students by name.
Did I have the perfect first day of school?
Not by a long shot.
As each class came and left, for blissfully short 25-minute orientation periods, I felt more and more overwhelmed. Less and less adequate.
- You’re not prepared enough.
- You’re too old.
- You didn’t make eye contact with everyone.
- You’re too formal.
- You’re not warm enough.
- You’re too much of a global abstract thinker.
- You’re not extroverted enough.
And on.
And on.
And on.
Daniel came home and told me that the juniors and seniors love our new English teacher, which is the best possible news. It’s what’s best for the students, for the school, for her.
- That means they like her better than you.
- That means she’s better than you.
- That means you’re no good.
And on.
And on.
And on.
I totally identify with Andrew’s question about the five loaves and two fishes brought to Jesus: “But what are these among so many?” (John 6:9)
What am I among so many students?
- I’m not ___ enough.
- I am too ____.
- I’m not as good at ___ as ___.
This is snake talk.
John 6 is not about five loaves and two fishes.
My call to teaching is not about me.
John 6 is about Christ taking a small personal offering and doing Kingdom-sized things with it.
Teaching is about Christ taking me, each day, and doing Kingdom-sized things with me and through me.
- But you’re…
Enough.
I recognize snake talk.
I know where it leads.
And I know what to do with snake talk:
Back talk.
Not “talk back.”
Turn around, and let my back talk.
Back talk.
Not “talk back.”
Turn around, and let my back talk.
“There is only one thing to be done….Do the thing that Eve forgot to do. Run. Run back to the One who formed you with his hands.”
Your Turn:
- When do you tend to hear snake talk?
- How do you tend to respond to snake talk?
- What would help you “talk back” less and back talk more?
The snake has been talking to me a lot lately. Or, I should say, I’ve been listening a lot lately. Thank you for this post.
You’re welcome! I think there’s something mesmerizing about the snake’s voice…not to excuse listening, but I find that unless I am relentlessly intentional about tuning into God’s voice, the snake starts sounding so good so fast.
Great post! I tend to hear the snake talk when I’m around my husband’s family. Last week we spent the 8 days with them. By the end of the week I was having trouble getting away from the snake talk. One of my sister-in-laws finally conceived after 14 years of marriage only to miscarry 7 1/2 weeks into the pregnancy. Because of this situation I felt a lot of snake talk such as the family doesn’t pay attention to me or want to talk to me. They only want to talk to her. My insecurities came out strong. I picked up God’s word and was also reading One Thousand Gifts. It was a tough week but with His power I made it through.
Kristina — thanks so much for sharing this! In re-reading it and mulling it over, I realize that I hear echos of old snake talk when I hang out with my husband’s family. They remind me of some really early issues we had when we were first married…things we’ve long since settled, but being around them brings out certain family qualities in my husband and a tree-full of insecurities in me! Kudos to you for keeping your Bible and a gratitude book at hand. You’re inspiring me to be intentional about planning for snake talk when I pack for my next family trip!
This is good Cheri! I usually hear snake talk when something doesn’t go as I expected…when I take that first step into thin air and I’m not trusting Jesus to shore up the ground beneath me. What I TRY to do is ignore it, but it definitely leaves me feeling insecure and hesitant to take the next step. What would help me back talk is to trust that no matter what happens (whether I land on firm ground or firmly land on my face) it is what has been ordained by God to happen. That there is purpose in my success as well as my failure.
Love the image of boldly taking those steps, regardless of success or (so-called) failure. Too often, insecurity and hesitancy make me act like a horse shying at the jump at the last possible moment when I could just as easily be up and over and moving forward!
Very good!!! This was such an eye opener I will continue to watch out for snake talk and turn my back 🙂
Thanks, Christina! “Back talk” was an eye-opener for me, too, as it dawned on me right as I was wrapping up the post and about to hit publish! Back in the 80’s there was an expression “talk to the hand” — I’m going to start using “talk to the back”! 😉
I tend to hear snake talk but I don’t snap quickly enough to what is actually is. I’m praying That I am more sensitive to hearing it so I can give it to God.
I “hear” ya! The snake is crafty and knows how to keep just under my radar. I like the idea of becoming more sensitive, like a finely calibrated receiver that can quickly detect the right and wrong frequencies!