Live a Life of Obedience
When we lived in Kenya our children loved hunting for and playing with chameleons. They were hard to
find because one of their survival techniques was their ability to change color and blend into their
surroundings.
They came in many different varieties but there was one that had three “horns” on its head. It was known as a rhinoceros chameleon. The kids looked extra hard to find one of those.
The Kenyans were terrified of chameleons. When the kids would have one of those in their hands, and go into a house, the Kenyans would scream and run. They were simply terrified of chameleons, even though
they are perfectly harmless.
I never figured out why they were so terrified or if they thought that my kids had some special power that
kept them from dying instantly when they held one. They never stuck around long enough to ask. They
were just convinced if they touched one, they would die instantly.
Now a generation later then when our children were little, I was still wondering why the Kenyans reacted the way they did when around chameleons. I found that chameleons are known to be related to witchcraft in many cultures around Africa. They believe it is being used by the witch doctors to send bad spirits to families because it changes the color. People say that it could transform good luck to bad luck, or if it bites you, it can transform you from being a man to woman or the other way around. Some tribes believed that they would laugh until they died.
One interesting fact I just found out is in recent years Kenyan farmers are raising Chameleons! There is a big export market where countries import them as pets.
I too, can easily adopt the techniques of the chameleon. There actually is a phenomenon called the
Chameleon Effect, where you mimic people you are around. I can choose to become one with the group
of people I am with, or resist and show the love of Jesus for those in need. The choice is easy when I think of my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33 NIV
Sandy Frisque (Editor)
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