Of Mice and...Chocolate???

My desk at work is a shared space. Other contractors use my work space when I am not there, since computers are limited. No big deal..until today. I was typing away this morning when I heard scratching noises coming from the drawers immediately to my left. I stopped, paused and listened...and continued what I was doing. The scratching continued. I pushed it out of my mind, thinking I'd eventually figure out what it was. About 30 minutes later, I had to go into my desk drawer for something. I pulled open the top drawer and saw a grey little body perched on the drawer wall. It looked at me and scurried away, over the drawer and into the console. While my eyes got big as saucers and my chair rolled back at least 3 feet,  I was mentally on the other side of the building in less than 5 seconds. Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike mice...per se. As long as they don't bother me, I have no problem with their existence. (I promise, I really am going somewhere with this story). This one though, had crossed the line. What irritated me even more, was that the chocolate the little bugger was munching on had been left by another contractor. Whether they forgot it or were using my desk as their own personal chocolate stashing place, I don't know, but I knew I had to take care of the mouse problem and quickly. The mouse in my desk then immediately became the topic of the row I sit in and it's now been the nonstop conversation of the day. Which made me think of a book I read in High School - Of Mice and Men

I read the book in ninth grade I think. I have always been fascinated with the character of Lennie. He was a very simplistic individual and was often in the company of another character, George. You might call them friends, you might call them travel companions, but the point is their characters intertwine in a very interesting way.

The long and short of their relationship is this: While en route to this new job, Lennie starts talking about his paradise - owning a few acres of land or a farm, being free from having to work and maybe even owning a puppy. Lennie like soft things and likes to pet him. One of his shortcomings is that he has no concept of his own strength. In his attempts to pet soft and cuddly things, like mice, he ends up crushing and killing them. He keeps talking about this dream and eventually pulls George into this fantasy. Once they arrive at the work site and develop relationships with some of the other workers, Lennie's childlike mentality and blind excitement slowly pulls the other men into this dream. Each man suddenly begins to have something new to work for, a hope of a break from the monotony they've known for so long. The author, John Steinbeck, does a great job of setting the climax of the book. Without spoiling the ending, events unfold that set up and inevitable ending for one of the characters. George has to make a choice - a choice that he knows will alter his future forever.

I've certainly left out huge amounts of detail as to George's character because he is most definitely a gruff man, but loyal to Lennie and takes care of him in a way.

I'm often inspired to view the world like Lennie - simplistic, excited, uncomplicated. But I often fear a choice like the one George has to make. One that could be life changing. But if we live in fear of choices that are not yet before us, then we miss out on the opportunities that life has to offer. If we base our decisions, afraid of the What if's then we may never truly experience life to the fullest. The phrase "cross that bridge when we come to it" is full of truth. You cannot cross a bridge if it is not before you. One of the things I feel that God is working in me is not living in fear of what the future might hold. The future is indefinite. We do not know what the next hour, minute or second might bring. I do believe in Carpe Deim, or Live for the Day - but I like to add my own ending. Live for the Day, but in the Light of Christ. If we do that then we certainly have nothing to fear. If we're walking in Faith then we should have the assurance that no matter what happens, we stand on the Rock that will not crumble.

***For those interested in reading the character studies in Of Mice and Men, here's the link.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/canalysis.html***