Someone recently gave me a book about marine biology. I have no idea why they thought I would like it, but I did spend about 45 minutes reading through some of it and found some rather fascinating facts. One particular fact that I came upon concerns the waters of the Bay of Naples and some of the creatures that make their home there.  There is one creature, called the Medusa Jellyfish, which consumes lots of other life forms including a particular snail. The jellyfish eats the snail which enters the jellyfish’s digestive tract, but the snail is protected from the digestive process by its shell and other mechanisms and it cannot be digested. The snail takes advantage of its predicament by fastening itself to the jellyfish and begins to eat its host. In fact, by the time the snail is full grown, it will have consumed the entire Medusa Jellyfish! I think that the story of the snail and the Medusa is a great parable for us when it comes to the things in our lives that we allow to get into our minds and hearts. We may have hurt feelings or resentments or grudges or maybe even some minor slights that can work their way into us and before long, they are eating us alive! Jesus came to show us the way out of such tragedies. He encourages us to forgive each other from our hearts so that there is no room for resentful feelings. He often reminded his disciples to “go the extra mile” in loving one another. Are you letting the “snails” of past hurts or perceived mistreatment eat at you so that you have no peace?