Animals All Around

Recently our home has been invaded by a pair of raccoons intent on welshing the dry cat food normally reserved for Sylvia, the beautiful stray cat who adopted us a couple of years ago. The raccoons began making their forays in the wee hours of the morning, gaining entrance through a back window left open for Sylvia to pursue her nocturnal haunts, but lately they have begun attempting earlier visits--almost as though they realized I was now closing the window before heading off to bed. This means that Sylvia will have to ask for assistance if she needs to go out in the night. Just what I needed.

A more harrowing experience with a creature of nature took place recently on a trip to Florida. I had gone out early in the morning to swim in the ocean, one of my favorite activities. There were several people in the water, including a number of children. Lazily, out of the corner of my eye I saw a man running onto the shore. I instantly realized it could only mean one thing: a shark was in the water. I snapped to attention and turned my head to see a dreaded dorsal fin heading my way. Judging from the size of the fin, I would estimate the shark to be no more than five feet long--certainly large enough to cause some damage. I prayed HARD to God asking for help, and somehow made it out of the water. I was subdued the rest of the day. Perhaps for the first time in my life I realized what it must feel like to live as potential prey.

These two experiences, plus the abundance of wildlife that seems to investigate my inner-suburban backyard every day, have made me reflect more than ever on the majesty, beauty and mystery of the animal kingdom. The diversity of animals is so overwhelming that we often grow numb to it. Even in our cities there is an incredible range of life-forms, all earnestly endeavoring to survive (ourselves included). When we behold our own bodies, we see that we are mammals, with organs, skin, hair and appendages. For this we should feel honored and exalted. Our creator, however we conceive of him, her or it, has seen fit to bless us with spiritual and physical attributes. We are truly amazingly made.

Even the ants that have plagued the kitchen this year are evidence of the diversity of life, as are the countless birds that fly overhead, the earthworms that make our soil viable, and even the denizens who crawl and slither in the night. Makes you wonder just what we will find someday on other planets.

Thanks,
Gary