Growing up in the northeast, I didn't have a lot of exposure to snakes. There may have been a small garter snake or the threat of a dangerous serpent down at a local pond near our neighborhood. But honestly, there wasn't much of a threat of snakes that I was aware of to be found in northern New Jersey. Wyoming, where I presently reside, is a different story. While serving as a consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, I had the opportunity to visit the northeastern part of the state. There was a new golf course being built around Sundance, Wyoming, and the local cleric who was also an avid golfer wanted to show me the new course. As we drove across the new asphalt road, near the top of the course, we saw a large diamondback rattlesnake sunning itself. My friend stopped the car to gi…