If you’ve ever been out in the dark, maybe taking out the trash or heading to the barn, and locked eyes with a possum, you know the feeling.
Your soul leaves your body for just a second as those beady eyes reflect in the moonlight. Maybe it hisses, maybe it just stares, and you suddenly remember every horror movie you’ve ever seen. It’s not a friendly looker, that’s for sure.
But, before we cast judgment on this scruffy marsupial, let’s consider what we can learn from the humble possum, because as it turns out, we might just be guilty of treating people the same way we treat this misunderstood critter.
Oh — Possums have a PR problem! Locals change his real name from opossum to simply be called possum, just like people in the far south refer to alligators as gators. Many people, myself included, when first encountering a possum, look upon it as a hideous oversized rat with lots of teeth who hisses in anger and invades our yards.
To clarify, an opossum is not a rodent, but a marsupial. Marsupials are like kangaroos. They are mammals that carry their babies in pouches. A cool fact is that opossums are the only marsupial living in North America.
Do you think that makes them unique and special? Most people will tell you that they’re ugly and creepy. Worst of all. possums play dead, which seems both cowardly and deceitful. But let’s clear something up. The possum isn’t playing at all.
When faced with danger, it first tries intimidation by hissing, baring its teeth, or making a run for it. But if caught off guard, its nervous system pulls the emergency brake, and down it goes into an involuntary, full-body shutdown. It doesn’t just collapse like you and I at the end of a long, hard work day. It puts on quite the performance.
The possum falls limp, its tongue rolls out, and its teeth protrude in an unsettling toothy grin. As if that weren’t enough, it releases an absolutely putrid odor from its hindquarters which is nature’s very own “DO NOT EAT” warning label.
To any predator, this is the equivalent of opening a fridge, seeing expired milk, and deciding, “Nah, I’ll pass.” But, of course, this strategy has its risks. If a predator isn’t deterred by the theatrics and decides to take a taste anyway, well, let’s just say the possum doesn’t have much of a Plan B.
Their dramatic fainting spells don’t win them any sympathy. Instead of being admired for their clever survival skills, they’re generally dismissed as road kill in waiting.
These sneaky little night stalkers are actually working behind the scenes to do a whole lot of good. They gobble up ticks by the hundreds, reducing the population of those little menaces. They also have an appetite for snakes, including copperheads! They are resistant to most forms of snake venom, including venom from rattlesnakes and copperheads.
Possums will eat just about anything. Insects found in yards create a possum smorgasbord. That’s right, while we’re out here accusing possums of being nature’s worst mistake, they’re busy keeping our yards and pastures safer.
There are a few possum lovers out there who view the Pac-Man faces and gloved hands of possums as cute. Some might be slapping a possum bumper sticker on their truck or designing possum- themed accessories.
Generally, it seems that possums are ignored, shunned, and mostly avoided, much like certain people within our communities. Sort of like the way we treat people who look different, act different, or don’t quite fit the mold of what we think is acceptable.
Scripture tells us that we are all designed with different roles and purposes. Maybe it’s time to rethink the possum and also the people we tend to overlook. Maybe we need to appreciate the quiet, unglamorous work that keeps everything running smoothly. Maybe we need to realize that what seems ugly or unapproachable at first glance might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Instead of dismissing someone because they’re a little rough around the edges, we could take the time to see their hidden talents. Some folks have an uncanny ability to fix anything. Others might not say much, but can be counted on to show up when you need them most. Just because a person isn’t what we expect doesn’t mean they don’t have value, just like that scrappy possum keeping our woods and fields a little safer.
The next time you see a possum frozen in your headlights, don’t just wrinkle your nose but give a little nod of respect. The next time you encounter someone a little different, a little odd, maybe even a little unpleasant, take a moment to see beyond the surface. You might just find they have something to offer that you never expected.
Because in the end, the Kingdom of God and a well-balanced ecosystem, wouldn’t be the same without them.
Just don’t get me started on the subject of armadillos.
Janet Mills is the director of Cassville Pantry, located at 800 W. 10th St. in Cassville. She may be reached at cassvillepantry@gmail.com or 417 846-7871.
