Charli saw the lizard first poking his head up through a maze of flattened cactus stems. We laughed about the cute little anole, wondered how long he’d been there, and agreed he was okay to stay for then. It seemed appropriate somehow that a lizard, kin to strange desert creatures requiring little water, should choose to camp in a cactus plant.

A week later I walked out on the porch and was startled to see the lizard still hanging out in the cactus. Maybe he wasn’t just camping. Maybe he was homesteading. I wasn’t keen on having him reside right by our back door. Suppose he decided to take a tour of his neighborhood and ended up on my neck? Rather than rudely extract him from the cactus plant, Charles kindly took cactus, lizard and all, out to the patio.

Now he seems to be gone. Seems to be. As I walk past the cactus, restored to its usual place by the back door, I wonder if the little brown anole is hiding down amongst the prickly branches. I like to think he’s out exploring his own world, climbing up monkey grass blades, skittering up brick walls warm from the sun, or measuring the heighth and breadth of the porch screen–on the outside.

The anole was cute camping in the cactus. I guess he felt safe there from our cats who jump on anything that moves. But I’m sure he’s happier in a bigger world, even if there are dangers. A safe refuge is important but even a lizard has a heart for exploring.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. Psalm 104:18