The World Around Us
At the beginning of August, we were privileged to travel to Africa for a holiday. For me it was a dream come true, being able to visit a place that I always wanted to explore. What an amazing country! It‘s a place where you can see God’s creation at its best. Even though you are driving amongst wild animals, they continue on with what they are doing, seemingly oblivious to the humans watching them. As I observed what was going on around me, I could not understand how anyone could not believe in creation. The patterns of life that are so obvious and the links that each animal has to one another can’t be denied. How does a buffalo rid itself of insects on its skin? It has an oxpecker to assist it. If a hippo is living in the river, it will eat the algae and reeds. When that goes through its system, then the Barbel catfish eats hippo’s poo in the river. Then of course, the crocodile will eat the Barbel catfish. There is a pattern of life to follow. Each animal has a purpose for living and if one link in this chain of life is destroyed, then the whole web of life is ruined and the effects are far- reaching .
The animals can also be a great example for us on how we live our life. It was very easy to see parallels for how we should live in Christ. Watching a Pied Kingfisher one day, I marvelled at how still it sat on the branch of a tree. At first I thought that it was frozen there, hoping that we would not notice it. But then I realised that it hadn’t even noticed us and was focussing its attention on something more important. As I watched, I saw this bird suddenly dart into the water and come back with a little fish in its mouth. This little bird had focussed its eyes on something that was important for its life- food ; and this little bird let nothing distract it from its goal of catching a meal for the day. By keeping its eyes on his goal, he was able to achieve what he set out to do – survive. If he had become distracted by what was happening around him, this little bird would have missed his dinner and been hungry until he tried again.
However whilst watching for his prey, this little kingfisher had to also be aware of the dangers lurking around him so that he would not become prey himself. By being still, he was not only concentrating on his goal, he was also not drawing the attention of his enemy.
In Psalm 37:7-9, it tells us to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret –it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” If we keep still before the Lord, then we have more chance of hearing what he desires for us and less chance of being tempted by our enemies.
Karen Kirby
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