The school bell has rung, class is now in session.
A month ago, when I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico facilitating a training; I was drawn to a conversation of two Army Soldiers, while having breakfast in the hotel. I will refer to them as Soldier A and Soldier B. Soldier B was expressing how she had never been to a military training in the mountains and had only been in forest areas. Soldier A was surprised and told her how they would need to mostly watch out for snakes when training in the mountain area. Soldier B’s eyes got as big as saucers!
“Snakes?!” She exclaimed. Soldier A chuckled and repeated matter-of-factly, “Yes, snakes.” He went on to explain that being in the mountain could be tricky because of the rocks and patches of grass that allowed for snakes to go unnoticed. Soldier B told him she thought the mountains would allow them to see things more clearly.
Soldier A went on to share a story about a time when he and a friend had gone hiking in the mountains. He said that when they turned a corner; they heard a slight sound of a rattle. They locked eyes with each other, concerned looks on their faces.
They knew it could not be a baby’s rattle, which left room for only one other thing in their minds. A rattle snake!
Both friends, being trained soldiers, knew they had to think fast. Looking around the grassy mountain, they observed that the snake could be anywhere. So they stood still and strained their ears to hear which direction the rattle sound was coming from. Once they agreed on the location of the sound, they leaped in the opposite direction and drew their weapons, ready to defend themselves from the strike of the snake.
The strike never came.
They looked in the direction of the rattle sound and notice something they had not noticed previously due to their fear. It was coming from a rustling bush.
Soldier A was smiling to himself at the memory as Soldier B laughed out loud. Soldier A went on to say this was the reason the mountains could be so dangerous because of having to look out for snakes in the grassy areas/rocks. He said that you could spot them a little better among the rocks but not as easily in the grass. Soldier B asked how they knew which direction to jump and what if they had been wrong? Soldier A said, he and his friend would have attempted to shoot the snake had it struck at them, but unfortunately it was always a gamble dealing with snakes in the grass because you usually do not see them approaching.
When I heard Soldier A’s story, it reminded me of something a School Principal once told me. The Principal said, “You have to look out for the snakes in the grass. They are on every level.” Since then, I have experienced different types of snakes in the grass and I am sure you have as well. As we approach 2024, analyze if any of these types are in your current space so that you can remove them immediately.
Personality Types of Snakes in the Grass
Liar – This type of snake likes to change the narrative concerning you and things surrounding you. You normally will not see this type of snake coming but will know it is in your space when people start behaving differently around and towards you even though you have not had any direct issue with them.
Chaos – This type of snake likes to bring about confusion. When things become chaotic and does not make sense, it may be coming from this type of personality. They throw a rock, hide one hand while using the other to blame someone else. Afterwards, they sit back eating popcorn and watch the storm unfold as entertainment.
Pied Piper – This type of snake is treacherous. It will draw you in as a friend and readily strike you behind your back. This type of snake is really dangerous because it will invite you through the door and lead you to your demise, after gaining your trust.
Convincer – This type of snake is subtle and is normally seen in people you know very well. It will try to convince you to go along with things you feel are wrong, or try to coerce you into schemes and plans that you ordinarily would not be apart of.
Bully – This type of snake usually starts out as an associate with the goal of becoming a confidant because they will use information against you when things do not quite go their way. This snake is a powerhouse because they gather followers that will protect and stand along with them in wrong-doing. They also have the ability to influence people, conversations, and decisions around them. They are masters at peer pressuring others.
The ultimate way to combat the snakes we cannot see is to continue to:
- Be a Person of Principle. A person of principle means someone who faithfully follows their principle rather than abandoning them when convenient.
- Stand for what is right, and practice integrity.
- Keep your physical and spiritual eyes peeled when navigating the grassy and Rocky Mountains of life.
When you make an internal decision to do and say what is right, even when no one is looking, you cannot fall prey to the snake in the grass. Light will always triumph over darkness.
The school bell has rung, class dismissed.
Kamina Fitzgerald 