Throughout my life, I have dealt with many "pesky" things that provoke the dickens out of me. I sure do miss those "dickens.” When I think I've got one pesky thing under control, another comes along.

I've had so many "pesky" things, but I'm still not a master in that area.

Recently, a new "pesky" thing entered my life.

The new "pesky" thing is a fly. I never knew flies could be so dominating in a person's life. After all, they're just little things with wings. About a month ago, I noticed flies buzzing around my head, especially around my nose, probably because I was wearing that suspiciously fragrant cologne I always wear.

I'm not sure why, because I blow my nose every day, and so there's nothing up my nose that should attract them. And yet, they are attracted to my nose all day long. No matter where I go, there is a fly somewhere attracted to my nose.

In a restaurant this past week, I was having lunch with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, and just as we were getting started with lunch, a fly buzzed around my nose.

I tried swatting him with both hands, but only hit my nose. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said, "What are you doing?"

I wasn't too happy, but I responded, "Don't you see these flies buzzing around me?"

Then she laughed. There are times I like when she laughs, and there are times when I really don't like her laughing about what she was laughing about.

Looking at me, she said, "Oh, you silly boy, where are those flies coming from? I don't see any!"

Then she told me she thought I might be seeing floaters in my eyes. I just looked at her and shook my head and tried to leave it at that.

It wasn't long until that fly came at my nose again. I clapped my hand on my nose, and wouldn't you know it, I got that fly. Looking at my wife, I grinned and said, "Does this look like a floater?"

She didn't know what to say.

Even when riding in the Sissy Van, I am being attacked by these frustrating flies. How they get into the Sissy Van is beyond anything I can think of right now. When I sit down in the Sissy Van, I buckle my seatbelt and then look around very carefully to see if there are any flies, and I don't see any.

Somehow, they have a way of hiding long enough, then attacking my nose. The good thing is that I'm not driving; otherwise, there would be serious consequences.

Trying to hide her chuckle, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage said, "Maybe it is the cologne you're wearing. They may be attracted to that cologne." Then her giggle broke out.

Finally, Sunday came and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I went to our church service as we do every week. She plays the piano, I lead the singing, and then the preaching. Something we like to do every week.

I was really involved in the service and the singing, and then started my Sunday sermon, not knowing a fly was about to turn the service into a comedy show.

As I began preaching, all of a sudden, there was a fly right in front of my face. I just swatted, hoping to chase it away.. For a few seconds, I didn't see it and thought it had just gone away.

Then it all began. The fly landed on my nose, almost going up my nostril. I chased it away and thought it was gone forever.. However, it came back and landed on my cheek, then on my ear, and I was getting very frustrated. I didn't want anybody to know that I was being distracted by this lousy fly.

I was preaching, and when I preach, I open my mouth. I never gave that a thought, but as I was preaching, all of a sudden, the fly went inside my mouth.

Now I have a dilemma here. What do I do? How do I get rid of the fly? Do you think I should spit it out in front of everyone? I didn't know what to do.

And then I did the unthinkable. I'm known for doing things without thinking. However, here was the worst example of that I've ever had.

I swallowed the fly, hoping nobody would see what happened.

Did you ever swallow a fly? It is the most disgusting experience I've had in my whole life. I could feel that fly fluttering down my throat, landing in my stomach.

I didn't want anyone to know what I just did, so I coughed a little and then took a sip from my water bottle.

Eating a fly during a church service is not something I had ever thought about. I tried to keep my composure, hoping no one had witnessed what I just did.

On the way home, a verse of scripture came to my mind.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

No matter the aggregation, “the peace of God” is bigger and brings me peace that the world cannot take away.