Easy To Grab, Hard To Let Go     Don't you just hate King Cobras?  I know I do - and I came by my feelings honestly.  Our zoo had a thirteen-foot giant that seemed to me to be the embodiment of evil.  He had a scar over his left eye that made him look mean and, more significantly, kept him from shredding his skin in a normal fashion.  At least twice a year we would get the dreaded phone call from  the reptile house. "The cobra shed his skin last week, but the eye cap didn't come off.  Looks infected.  Suppose you and the doc could come down and clean it?"     A snake's skin includes a clear scale over the eye to protect it from sand  and foreign objects.  Snakes have no eyelids, so they have no way to blink for protection.  The snake's scar prevented a normal shed, so the eye cap needed to be surgically removed.     We made the appointment for the next day.  Arrangements were more critical for this procedure because of its extreme danger.  Only two people at the zoo could take responsibility for grabbing the more deadly snakes, and this was the most deadly.  This snake's venom glands contain enough poison to kill one thousand adults - a fact that seemed to come up every time we did this procedure.     The curator of reptiles was assigned to grab the head, and two reptile keepers were to steady the body.  When the snake was subdued, the veterinarian would begin the delicate surgery.  His arena kept him inches  from a lethal injection.  My job was to furnish scalpel, sponge, hemostat, and anything else to expedite the procedure.     The capture of the cobra was as follows:  The five of us took our positions. The two keepers stood on either side of the large cgae door.  The curator stood in front of the door about six feet away.  The vet and I stood on either side of the curator about ten feet from the door.  The keepers' only defense were sheer bird nets with two-foot handles.     With a nod of his head, the curator signaled for the door to be opened. Seconds later thr king cobra appeared.  As soon as he saw us, he stopped, spread his cape, and raised to full stature.  The cage was two feet off the ground, so we were looking at the snake at eye level.  The cobra was trembling with excitement as he, in turn, staed at each of his five enemies.  He seemed to be choosing who would be his first prey.  The  curator was chosen, and with shocking quickness the snake lunged forward, hissing and growling with malevolent rage.  With lightening  speed, the skilled keepers placed the sheer nets over the snake's head.  And as he pushed to get through, the curator firmly grasped his neck just behind his venom sacs.  The keepers grabbed the writhing body, then the curator nodded and said, "Let's get this over with."     The pressure was incredible.  The vet's hands were trembling and beads of sweat began to run down the curator's forehead.  The curator turned to me and said, "Do you have any cuts or scratches on your hands?" I looked and said, "No." "Get a wad of paper towels, quick," he followed in a strained voice. I did so. "Now, put it in the cobra's mouth."     The king watched the paper towels as they were carefully positioned to allow him to bite them.  He bit down violently and began to chew.  The towels became yellow with venom until they began to drip.     The curator continued, "Did you know several  elephants die every year from king cobra bites? A man could never survive a bite with a full load of venom.  That's why I'm having you drain his venom sacs.  My hands are sweaty and my fingers are cramping.  When I let him go, it may not be quick enough.  More people are bitten trying to let go of snakes than when they grab them. You get weak quickly when you grab a big poisonous snake."      There are many situations in life that are parallels - easy to grab, hard  to let go - so it pays to think twice before you grab them.  Indebtedness, vengeance, lying, adultery, drugs, alcohol, pornography, promiscuity -  these and many more are serpents that will drain your strength and bite you to death while you're trying to let them go.     Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.     Samson found that embracing Delilah was easy and exciting.  But his life was destroyed after he laid his head on her lap.  Reread his story in chapters 13 - 16 of the Book of Judges.  Ask yourself two questions:       1.   "Who do I know who has his head on Delilah's lap?" If you know someone who does, attempt a rescue.     2.  "If I woke up on Delilah's lap, would there be anyone to recue me?" If not, make the type of friends who would try.     Author ~ Gary Richmond       All graphics © 2001 By Until Then Graphics   All right reserved.                            All other copyrights belong to their respective holders.                      This background set made and copyrighted by Until Then Graphics.                       It was made especially for "View From A Zoo - Daily Reflections",                               so please do not take any of the graphics or set.                                 Thank you for respecting the copyright laws. Photo and clip art courtesy of : Broderbund