This story comes from “The Quest for Character” by Chuck Swindol.

Jay Rathman was hunting deer in the Tehema Wildlife Area in northern California. He climbed to a ledge of a rocky gorge when he came face-to-face with a coiled rattler. The snake struck at him, missing Jay’s right ear and getting its fangs snagged in the wool of his turtleneck sweater. The force of its strike caused the snake to land on his left shoulder and then coil itself around his neck. Jay grabbed it behind its head while the rattle made a furious racket.

Jay fell backwards and ended up wedged between some rocks upside down. He got the rattler’s fangs out of his turtleneck, but it kept trying to strike at him. Jay said that he found out snakes do not blink. Can you imagine being eyeball-to-eyeball with a rattlesnake that is trying again and again to sink its darning needle-like fangs in you? I will spare you the rest of the encounter with the snake. It did not end well for the creature.

Warden Dave Smith said he met Mr. Rathman while he was walking toward his station holding a rattle in his hand. He had a grin on his face while he said, “I’d like to register a complaint about your wildlife here.”

I know this experience sounds crazy, but it’s true! You can fact-check it in the L.A. Times, November 4, 1984, Section III, page 1.

Isn’t crazy and true how our life struggles can strike at us in unsuspecting moments? Have you ever felt assaulted by physical pain, emotional trauma, stress, doubts, conflicts, temptations, financial collapse or work hazards? How do you handle them when they strike (and don’t blink)?

Here’s a bit of wisdom to help you with life’s struggles, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all you ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).