With a brightly colored dragonfly perched on the end of his gnarled finger, my grandpa told me about what he called the snake doctor. “God cares about all His creatures. Snake doctors are healers, and protectors. They warn snakes if there is trouble and sew them up if they are injured.” Then with a wink and a smile Grandpa straightened his finger and the snake doctor flew over the pond and proceeded to zip back and forth as if in search of some wounded serpent. Though unimpressed with the mythology at the time, I was fascinated. How did he catch that dragonfly?
It is only in retelling the story that I recall Grandpa’s finger pointing at me. Which leaves me pondering something else, am I the wounded snake or the jewel encrusted dragonfly? Crawling amongst the world, I am certainly an opponent of righteousness and an enemy of God (James 4:4). Sin wounds me in ways only the great physician can heal (Luke 5:31 -32). He searches for sinners like a shepherd who lost a sheep or someone who lost a coin (Luke 15). Then He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
I identify with the snake in need of healing, but I also recognize the duty of the dragonfly. Through healing I am transformed (2 Corinthians 5:17). Isaiah 40:31 describes those who are healed as those “who wait for the Lord” they are strengthened and “mount up with wings like eagles.” Flying with eagerness and endurance we are sent to warn others of the dangers of sin (John 3:36). The beauty of the bejeweled bug is not lost on the brokenhearted. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news (Romans 10:15)!”
Dragonflies remind me that I was wounded and wallowing in sin, but now I am set free and flying faithfully. I can pass that lesson to the next generation, if I can figure out how to catch one.