Kindness

I know!  I know!  Some people don’t like bugs at all.  So the best advice I can
offer is hold you left hand over the screen to block the image, then read this text.

The photo is a highly magnified image of some strange bug that will not
go away.  I don’t know his or her name, gender, classification, or
reason for camping out in my house.  I do know, though, that he is
very persistent.  I have invited him to leave the house several
times, but he shows up a few hours later and we have the
conversation again.  Now he lives in the garage where he has
plenty of room to roam.

I know what you’re thinking.  Why doesn’t he just step on it
and end the problem and the bug’s life at the same time? And
my answer will sound strange, perhaps, but I don’t like to take
away the life of any sentient being that lives on the
earth with me.  And I know there are occasions when that
might be necessary, but not for my convenience or pleasure.

So the point is this…think about how we share life on the planet
with so many other living creatures, and consider that they
have some sort of life as an individual or in community.
Maybe if we thought and acted more kindly toward the creatures
with whom we share the earth, we might decide to act more
kindly toward each other.
And wouldn’t that be an improvement.

God of all living things, creatures and plants alike,
help us to be kind toward each other, to value life,
as an act of thankful recognition for your love
in all your creation.
May it be so.  Amen.