A woodpecker is a very interesting bird. The loud rat-a-tat-tat noise he makes as he drills into trees in search of bugs to eat always attracts attention.
The secret of his success is simple. When a woodpecker finds a suitable tree, he begins to drill a hole. If the wood is too hard or no bugs are found, he simply moves over a bit and starts again. Over and over he continues, until he meets with success.
The Evil One uses temptation in much the same way. He will try one temptation on us and then if not successful, will move over a bit and try another.
And so he will continue, over and over again, until he finds a soft spot in us that he can use to his advantage.
What is one of YOUR soft spots that the Evil One can take advantage of?
THE SUN IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF GOD BECAUSE THE SUN KEEPS US SAFE AND WARM!
My Commentary:
The image of the woodpecker offers a powerful lesson about perseverance—both in nature and in the spiritual life. The bird’s persistence, moving from one spot to another until it reaches its goal, is admirable when applied to survival.
Yet when viewed through a spiritual lens, this same persistence becomes a sobering reminder of how temptation operates.
The Evil One does not always succeed on the first attempt. Just like the woodpecker, he is patient and strategic. If one form of temptation does not sway us, he shifts slightly, presenting a new enticement, until he eventually discovers a weakness.
This persistence reminds us that spiritual vigilance is not a one-time effort but a daily, ongoing necessity.
The parallel drawn here warns us not to be naïve about temptation. The devil rarely comes with one obvious attack. Instead, he probes, tests, and waits, moving little by little until he uncovers a soft spot—an unchecked desire, a hidden resentment, a weariness that lowers our guard. Left unattended, these soft spots become entry points for sin.
But the reflection also carries a hopeful implication: just as the woodpecker must search long and hard before finding what he seeks, so too can we resist the Evil One’s drilling.
By fortifying ourselves through prayer, Scripture, community, and self-discipline, we can make our hearts firm in God’s grace. Temptation may keep knocking, but if we are rooted in Christ, the Enemy will not find the “soft spot” he is seeking.
Ultimately, the lesson is one of awareness and readiness. Just as the woodpecker’s rat-a-tat calls attention to itself, temptation also demands our awareness. Recognizing its persistence and disguises is the first step to guarding against it.
