I have written about the delight that I find in all the wonderful creatures that our Mighty God has created to populate the earth.  It is easy to be enthralled with the mother duck and her ducklings paddling in front of our cottage.  It is exciting to watch the majestic hawks swoop and fly over the nearby cliff.  It is fun to watch the otters frolic in the early morning light.

However, this summer we have another small creature who has made a gigantic impact on our corner of the eco-world – the gypsy moth caterpillar.  This morning’s paper headlined the fact that their infestation is the worst of the last thirty years!  Trees have been stripped bare of their leaves.  There will be no beautiful fall-colored leaves in parts of our town.  Their munching can be heard in the quiet of night; their droppings litter the sidewalks and lawn furniture; and the chewed-up leaves are sad evidence of their universal presence.

It is not easy to love and admire these nasty critters.  However, by stepping back and stripping away the negative behaviors, I can admire the miraculous work that they perform.  It is really astounding to consider the volume of leaves that they can eat.  Combine that fact with the reality that there is not much that can be done to control their unfettered eating and you have an amazing creature.

I am not enlightened enough to understand why God created such a vicious and voracious creature.  Yet I do trust that there is a divine plan for them.  Just as there is a plan for each of us.  I am praying to accept the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar as I clean up their mess on my deck every morning.  Looking beyond outward manifestations to the inner beauty that God has instilled in every creation, demands a practiced faith in the goodness of God.  A trust that God knows what He is doing when we do not.  A belief in the unconditional love that God has for all His children, no matter how many legs they have.

Terri