I read a reading recently about snakes: the parable was that we should concern ourselves, when bitten by a snake, with getting the poison out of our system rather than wondering how this came to pass or resenting the snake. I see the point, of course. But there is more.
Of course the reason for enmity between man and the snake goes back to the Garden of Eden.
One listened to the snake. One believed the snake. One was flattered by the snake. One obeyed the snake.
So now it's the enemy.
Whenever I'm bitten, I set it up.
The apple cannot be debitten.
The program of the ego cannot be debugged.
What we have in Psalm 91 is being protected both from the dragons coming head on and the snakes biting at the ankles.
Unless one understands the nature of the problem and the nature of the solution, one will go around meetings saying things like, "I've had a shit week," "Recovery is not a bed of roses," "Life has been life-y" and so on.
We do not deserve it, really, which is why it is a tragedy. But it is the price of the separation. We do deserve more. That's why it's painful. We know that.
All of this must be made clear.