Mouse

For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 66:16-17 KJV)

I cheated this time, seeking to tell some mouse stories, and searched for “mouse” when a friend’s blog mentioned finding one.

Now, we can’t imagine imagine eating a mouse, even if it is in a garden behind a tree.  While we’ve accepted pork, mice remain unclean in our society – and I have no desire to see that changed!

Most of us have had a run-in with a mouse.  Some have been a bit funny (after we screamed loudly.)  The first one that comes to mind took place in the front offices of a Fixed Based Operation I worked for in Oklahoma City.  Surrounding the runways were acres and acres of open fields.  Come winter, some of the less hardy denizens sought shelter inside.  One such mouse chose an odd hiding place – an open-face gas heater with ceramic inserts. 

Lighting that heater was simple, turn on the gas and place a burning match at the end closest to the handle.  My boss did, and just as the flam began racing down the length of the nozzle, a mouse jumped from behind a ceramic insert, looked at the flame and ran in front of the advancing flair and jumped off the end.  There, it stood on hind legs and batted forepaws to brush the ashened whisker ends.

My boss swore the mouse gave her a dirty look before scooting off into the hangar, much safer among the aircraft!

Of course, there are always stories regarding strange ways mice exit our lives, too.  Second Daughter was about ten when picked the strangest – to me.  She and Son were on the patio when a mouse ran from behind some planters.  She was quicker with her hands than her brother, picking up the nearest weapon – a ten-pound sledge her father had left.  Quicker even with her eyes, as she dropped that hammer right on the mouse!  Of course, she asked her brother to get rid of the body.  There are some things a girl just doesn’t want to do.

Now I must include another verse having to do with mice (this is a Bible reading blog, you know), so let’s visit the Philistines who held the Ark of the covenant.  That wasn’t good for them, at all.  When they had almost enough, they placed it in an open field which became overrun with mice.  To return it to the Israelites, there was a price to be paid:

Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. (1 Samuel 6:4-5 KJV)