Catching Foxes

Protecting what God is growing in you

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.

— Songs of Solomon 2:15

A garden always starts with promise. The ground is newly watered, the buds are opening, and everything feels fresh and full of potential. But anyone who’s done some planting knows the truth: it doesn’t take much to ruin a nice garden. Sometimes all that’s needed is for a tiny fox to sneak in and nibble away at what’s just beginning to bloom.

In life, most of us brace ourselves for the big problems, but it’s the small stuff that does the slow damage: a snippy comment we don’t apologize for, a sin we keep excusing, a task we put off “until tomorrow,” a bitterness we let ferment. Before we know it, the vineyards of our heart, our relationships, and our spiritual life show signs of nibbling.

And don’t forget, little foxes don’t stay little. They grow into big foxes that cause a lot more trouble. God gave us this verse as a warning: pay attention early. Don’t shrug off the minor irritations in your relationships. Don’t ignore the subtle shifts in your spiritual life. When the vineyard is in blossom, when things are actually going well, that’s when it needs to be guarded most carefully.

But the problem is that foxes are quick. They don’t sit around and wait for you to fling a noose around their neck. To catch a fox, you need to know its habits. When is it active? How does it get past the fence? What plant does it pick at the most? Then you can set out your trap. “Catch the foxes,” the verse says. Go after them intentionally. Name them, face them, and deal with them before they chew through another vine.

It’s hard to catch a fox, but it’s harder to undo the damage it leaves behind. The good news is that we aren’t in this alone. The Lord nudges our hearts when something needs tending. He gives us the courage to apologize quickly, break sinful habits, and take responsibility. He helps protect what He’s growing in us. If we catch the foxes early, the blooms of today can become the harvest of tomorrow.

A/N: I once planted sunflowers in the backyard and they grew pretty tall, but a bunch of squirrels ate all the sunflower seeds. Those little acrobatic menaces…