Who would have thought this old body could move that fast? The dogs, sensing retreat was necessary, hightailed it, too. The next day, a small skunk was sprawled lifeless in the street a half block away. Although I considered myself and my dogs fortunate, indeed, to have escaped wearing eau de skunk, it still saddened me to see this small undomesticated creature fatally injured. Wild animals who try to reside alongside humans probably have no longer life span, and perhaps shorter, than those who dwell in the wild. They have to contend with constant vehicular traffic. They raise the ire of those who do not want their cabbages or lettuce becoming a critter banquet. Plus, these small creatures have to contend with those humans who have no conscious about killing small animals.
Perhaps we should remember what Hildegard of Bingen (twelfth century) said, “Without the Word of God no creature has being. God’s Word is in all creation, visible and invisible.” Or Job 12: 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you…” Centuries have passed between those words and today. Let us not lose the understanding that even misplaced critters so lovingly bestowed upon us have significance and lessons to teach. Could my lesson have been that when properly prompted, rapid movement can still occur? Wowza. [email protected] ©Ann Rains--August, 2018
4 Comments
|
Subscriptions are free! Just fill out the box below.
Archives
August 2021
Featured Posts
|