Yep, That's A Beaver

When you walk through the woods down near the pond, you can see the evidence. There are trees broken off near the base, looking much like pencils that have been through the sharpener.

That can only mean one thing - beavers.

The previous owners of our land told us that they had removed some from the property in the past, so we assumed they were gone.

They're not.

We've never seen the beavers themselves. They are very quiet, very private creatures. They've even built several dens along the bank of the pond, and we never knew it. But once we learned the beavers were out there, we began to see the dens everywhere.

They've crept in while we weren't looking, and they're tearing up our forest little by little. They're not cute and they're not pleasant in any way. They're simply destructive, and we can't have that on the property.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7

Just like our big beavers, there are things and people that will creep in unawares. They are a silent, deadly threat. Like the beaver will fell a tree, sin will devour us to our very core. 

The only way to stop the destruction in the woods is to remove the beavers. The only way to remove the destruction in our hearts and lives is to remove any trace of sin and draw close to the Lord. Then the trees will grow back and the landscape will be full and beautiful again.