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| Photo by Pam Williams |
I hate bugs.
They can ruin a good picnic, disturb my quiet time on the porch, creep me out
when they scurry under the chair I am sitting on, and elicit high-pitched
squeals when they drop onto me out of nowhere.
Why did God
have to create them anyhow? I pondered this theological question while waving
away gnats as I sat with a cup of tea on the back porch, trying to connect with
God.
I had just
read a meditation on the right to life. Do even pesky insects have a right to
life? As I sat in contemplation I noticed a sparrow fluttering around following
a moth. I love the subtle and stark variations in color of a bird’s feathers.
Watching the antics of chickadees and nuthatches spreads a smile across my
face. Listening to their chorus of praise in the early morning lifts my spirit.
Birds bring me joy.
Suddenly the
sparrow snatched up the moth and darted onto a tree branch to enjoy his
fresh-caught meal--and I realized why there are bugs. Without bugs, there would
be no birds. A world without birds would be less colorful, less musical, less
fascinating—lessened in so many ways.
So maybe bugs
do have a right to life.
It’s all a
matter of balance. The bugs nourish the birds and the birds keep the bug
population at an acceptable level. Everything living thing God creates has a purpose—even
those whose purpose, like annoying bugs, can sometimes be a challenge to
decipher.
Blessings!
Pam
