Well, it didn't happen overnight, but spring has definitely sprung in Sydney.  The sun is shining brightly much earlier in the morning now and the days usually take on that wonderful balmy warmth that makes it just feel good to be alive.  The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing and there's an honest to goodness feeling of well being in the air.

However, in the midst of all the growing, blossoming and delightfully mellow days, came the reality that it was also time to wash away the winter dust and dirt that had spread itself quite liberally over everything outside - not least of all the outdoor dining setting.

Every day as I took the washing out to the clothes line, the neglected dining setting silently reproached my lack of attention through its dust and grime.  Not even the flamboyant geranium in the middle of the glass table could detract from the fact that this was one very grubby piece of outdoor furniture.

Then there were the chairs!  If the glass table looked dirty and uninviting, the chairs were just one step short of repulsive!  I seriously doubt that even the weariest of visitors would have felt any desire to take the load off their feet by resting on these normally very comfortable seats.  A bit of winter dust and dirt wouldn't have been so bad, but having been used as a "public convenience" by some of the local birdlife, made them downright unappealing.

It wasn't as though they were absolutely covered in droppings, but each chair had at least one quite large, tell-tale splodge on display.  It really made a charming scene to look out on from my kitchen window.

This morning as I took the first load of washing to the clothesline, I decided that today was the day for action.  I'd had enough of the grubby, grimy, guano-splattered furniture and was finally ready to get cleaning.

Now before you think that I'd simply been too lazy to be bothered doing it before, there is one other thing that I should tell you.  You see I wasn't putting it off because of the dirt.  There was actually a reason for my reluctance and it was because of something quite dangerous.

Toward the end of winter when we enjoyed a week or so of brilliant summer-like days, I did honestly plan to clean down the table and chairs.  After all, the weather was just beckoning us to enjoy some outdoor living.  However, before I got further than the intention, I noticed an ominous sign under a couple of the chairs.

It happened when Steve asked me to move the seats so that he could clean the pavers under them.  Lifting one, I immediately noticed some very messy webs around the base and upper legs of the chair.

Being an Aussie girl from birth, it didn't really take any great deductive powers to conclude that there were some not very nice spiders living under our garden setting.  In fact, I had a strong suspicion as to what they probably were and decided to just put off cleaning them for the time being.

I suppose I could have sprayed around them right there and then, which would have been the most obvious and wisest thing to do.  Unfortunately, truth be told, when it comes to nasty spiders, I'm not the bravest person in the world.  Non-nasty spiders, such as Huntsmen or the old Daddy Long Legs, don't really bother me.  But if it has a notorious reputation, I go quite weak kneed.

So I put it off ... until today!

Grabbing an arsenal of cloths, water, glass cleaner, soap and cobweb broom, I began work on the dirty table.  In next to no time it was sparkling in the sunlight and restored to its former glory.  With a sigh of satisfaction, I took my courage in both hands and started work on the chairs.

The first chair had a few tiny webs, but no spiders in sight.  The second, third and fourth chairs were all, to my relief, much the same.  Before long there were four chairs drying in the warm sunshine - totally free from the dirt, grime, webs and bird droppings of winter past.

By this time I was feeling fairly comfortable and relaxed, with very little concern about what may lie beneath.  All that changed with chair number five!  As I tipped it forward to give the base a quick sweep with the broom, I noticed that there was a lot more cobweb under this seat - and it was most definitely very messy.

Taking a deep breath I started clearing away the web and that's when I saw the large red stripe, virtually screaming a visual warning to anyone who may be foolish enough to come any closer.

With a delicate shudder, I realised that my initial suspicions had been confirmed.  There was a red-back spider living in what would have been very close proximity to any casual sitter's posterior!

The Australian red-back is not the most deadly spider in Australia, however, as is the case with its close relative, the Black Widow, it is highly poisonous and not to be taken lightly.

I suppose I could have grabbed a stick and squished the frightening little arachnid, but even that would take me way too close for my sense of comfort.  Instead, I went into the house, found the surface insecticide under the kitchen sink and then simply sprayed that red-back away.

Strangely enough, even as I was killing the potential threat, I couldn't help but marvel at God's design.  Spiders have their place in the big scheme of things (although definitely not under our outdoor chairs) and they do fulfil a purpose.  The wonder is that God went out of His way to make this particular spider very, very obvious.  The bright red stripe is an extremely clear warning of danger and it would be a very unwise person who noticed that and then continued on regardless.

Although these spiders aren't terribly aggressive, they have a habit of building their webs in places where we humans are most likely to come in contact with them.  All I can say is "Thank God for that red stripe!"

The warning it flashed was most definitely one that I took notice of!

Not all spiders are quite so considerate with their markings.  But to be honest, wisdom would always dictate taking care whenever an unidentified spider comes into close proximity.  The very fact that itis an eight-legged beastie of unknown reputation should be a warning to take care all on its own!  We have a few of such spiders in the back room right now and every time one of them appears, Matt and I catch it very, very carefully.

When it comes to spiders, I find the Wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs chapter 22, verse 3, worth taking note of:

Just call me Prudence!

Arachnephobia aside, the reality is that all of us will come across a multitude of warning signs along the road of life.  Each time we see one we'll have the same choice as to whether we take note of the potential danger and change course or carry on regardless.

Not all warnings are to protect us from physical danger.  Some may be there to steer us clear of situations, circumstances and people who will cause us great emotional pain and distress.  Other warnings are there to protect us from endangering our spirit.

Warnings against physical danger are usually fairly obvious and, to be honest, the emotional hazards are also usually relatively easy to see (provided we're willing to look).  However, the spiritual dangers aren't always so clearly signposted.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  It's not hard to see the big things that will cause our spirit to be damaged, but the danger signs for the "little" temptations and sins can often be overlooked along the way.

So how do we make sure that we aren't walking headlong into the perils of life in this world and instead, are heeding the warning signs along the way?  Well, quite simply, we need to make sure that we're reading the greatest "warning sign" ever written as well as listening for the sound of our inbuilt "alarm system" – that's God's Word and His Holy Spirit.

The Bible is full of God's love for us and because of that love, He has also filled it with clear warnings and direction to protect us from danger - physically, emotionally and, most importantly, spiritually.

So when we see a warning that something we're about to do (or may already be doing) is dangerous in some way, let's not be like the man who foolishly keeps going and then has to pay the price.  Instead, let's take a leaf out of "Mr. Prudence's" book and run for cover.

In fact, let's run straight under the shelter of our Heavenly Father's wings of love.