More than half of my life I have lived in northern California. I enjoy our forests, the trees, the birds, and animals.

A few years ago some friends and I traveled to Arizona. We flew into Phoenix and rented a car to take us to our destination. During the 45 minute drive, I was unusually quiet. I was marveling at the sights. The arid desert, rocky terrain, and scattered vegetation contrasted sharply to the forests near my home.

I especially appreciated the iconic saguaro cacti standing guard. Some were 40 feet tall with many arms reaching toward the blue-white sky.  Others had only a few prickly appendages.

Later, while chatting with a local, I was shocked to learn the saguaros are dying. She explained that the cacti may look healthy, but many are diseased by bacteria rotting them from the inside. Injury allows the bacteria to enter a cactus. Left untreated, the cactus splits, oozes black liquid, and dies. How sad!

As I think about the saguaro, I consider “prickly” people who “ooze their disease” onto others. Their anger, foul language, and abuse spills out on others. I have considered that possibly hidden sin is affecting their demeanor. Sin may be eating away at them on the inside. Unaddressed or unconfessed sin can eat away at us, poison us. I too have been prickly at times.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. “  -1 John 1:9 & 10 (NKJV)

I have started to pray for those that seem prickly to me.  Asking the Lord to show them what needs to be addressed or cleaned up. Or if they do not know the Lord, that they will seek Him and find Him.