Happy Thoughts

Large-flowered Trillium

Twin-leaf Cutwort

I have found myself getting a little depressed over the last twelve hours or so.  I have seen, primarily via social media, too many examples of injustice in the world; too many acts of judgement against those who choose to live a Godly lifestyle.  I find it interesting how non-believers are so quick to accuse Christians of passing judgement, yet Christians cannot practice their faith without being called ignorant, hateful, and believers of pixies and fairies.  We have come to a place, or perhaps we have been there for a long time and I'm only just now noticing, where I feel like I am under constant attack, not because of how I treat people, but rather because of placing my faith in something other than myself and science.

Once upon a time, back in the early history of our nation, some of the most noted naturalists were men of faith, clergymen.  When they were not preaching, presiding over funerals, and other official duties, they were out learning from Creation.  Now-a-days, it is very difficult for  person of faith to share their enthusiasm for Creation, because most naturalists are not people of faith.  They believe that those of who are, are nothing more than flakes out searching for leprechauns.

So, as I began writing this I found myself in need of finding a happy place.  My happy place is the Stone House Trail at Salt Fork State Park near Cambridge, Ohio. This trail, located on the north side of the park, is perhaps one of the best wildflower walks in Ohio come April and May.  Even in bad wildflower years, this trail is stunning.  In good years, the overwhelming beauty is almost enough to bring a tear to the eye. Sometimes I like to sit on one of the rocks surrounded by trillium and just listen to the waves of the lake, lapping up against the shore, the wind brushing against the leafless twigs above me.  It is refreshing to be absorbed into the raw beauty of Creation, nobody around to tell me I am not conservative enough, or to tell me how hateful I am because I do not agree with the latest social trends, or to ask if I have seen any unicorns pass by (snicker, snicker).

So please excuse me as I close my eyes, find a rock to sit upon, and listen to the only words that really matter; those of Creation rejoicing around me.

Something Foul A Foot

Skunk Cabbage season is once again upon us.  In swamps near and far, or at least in the northeastern fourth of the U.S., Skunk Cabbage will begin breaking ground any day now.  While many of my non-Christian friends will disagree, I think this plant has divine design written all over it.

Also known as Symplocarpus foetidus, this plant is completely designed to attract pollinators at a challenging time of year.  Not long after the flower (the lovely red and yellow structure) breaks ground, the spathe, the large outside 'envelope', starts to rot.  The process of rotting generates heat, enough heat to actually melt the snow directly around it.  Also enough heat to encourage the pollinating insect, most likely a fly or beetle, to crawl in to warm up.

Of course, as things rot they typically start to smell bad.  The foul odor yet again helps direct pollinators to the spadix, the yellow ball inside where the reproductive structures are located.  The pollinator crawls around on the spadix, thus picking up pollen and moving it around.  As if any more help were required, the color of the spathe is eerily reminiscent of decaying flesh.

The Skunk Cabbage is therefore designed to attract pollinators through sight, smell, and touch (heat).  If that is not design, redundant design at that, in action, then I don't know what is!  Let me encourage you to visit a woodland swamp near you and seek out these little gems, poking up through the icy crust.

Winter Beauty

While I like to connect Creation with scriptural truths, sometimes it's nice to go out into Creation just to enjoy the beauty of it.  Winter provides a unique opportunity to view Creation in a different light.  My youngest daughter and I went out this afternoon to view winter in all of its splendor in Clear Creek Metro Park just south of Lancaster.  There was no shortage of icy stalactites and natural black and white shots thanks to a recent snow.  Creation always looks so clean in the winter; all of the roadside trash hidden under a blanket of snow.

Let me encourage you to get out and enjoy the beauty of Creation in its wintery wardrobe!

A Season of Rest Part 2

I have been learning lately a lot about the 'resting period' that I spoke of in my last blog.  Creation is designed with resting periods, for organisms to slow down and rejuvenate  I had always thought that most butterflies overwintered in the pupa or chrysalis stage.  This would make sense.  The pupa in a way is a resting stage, being unable to move, at least unable to cover distances.  The pupa stage for many creatures can wiggle, which is a little freaky when you see it, but they cannot run away, fly away, etc.  And of course, winter is the natural season for a resting stage.  With the cold as debilitating as it is, it is difficult to move the life cycle very far forward in sub-zero temperatures.

However, in the past few weeks I have learned several butterfly species actually overwinter in the larva, or caterpillar, stage.  Pictured below is the Great Spangled Fritillary.  These fritillaries spend the winter as very early instar caterpillars, meaning very small caterpillars, perhaps only a few millimeters in length.  The caterpillars seek shelter in the deep cracks of tree bark.  Once the weather begins to warm in the spring they will crawl down the side of the tree to feast upon violets on the forest floor.

The caterpillars of other butterfly species, for example satyrs and grass skippers, will overwinter buried within the stems of the grasses that they will feed upon in the spring.  Of course, these overwintering caterpillars do not feed, but simply bide there time until the weather warms.

How are you using your resting period?  Creation was designed to meet all of our needs.  One of those needs is rest.  Take advantage of God's planning for your rest!

A Season of Rest

As I sit in my living room, wearing my Mexican blanket and toboggan, I have opportunity to reflect.  The weather outside is brutal from the human perspective; 5 degree air temperature with a wind chill around -20 degrees.  Snow covers the ground.  My furnace is set at 60 degrees in an attempt to save money on natural gas, hence the reason for the blanket and the stocking cap.  Yet, this brutal season is all by design (in my opinion).

Frequently, living in a capitalist country, there is a sense that we have to constantly be Go, Go, Go.  My employer is open today, hoping that every school in Ohio being closed will create opportunities for admission paying visitors.  We do not let bad weather stand in the way of generating revenue.  Fortunately today is a scheduled day off for me.

Instead, I view days like today, and seasons like the Midwestern winter, as opportunities for rest.  Creation needs an opportunity to rest.  Constantly being in Go mode weakens us and makes us more susceptible to disease.  Creation is the same way.  In the Midwest, that resting stage for Creation in winter.  The trees lose their leaves and go dormant.  The above ground portions of perennials and grasses turn brown and wither away.  The animals seek shelter in caves and hollow trees.  Aquatic creatures retreat to the warmest parts of their water body.  All of these organisms are seeking their rest, as intended, waiting for more favorable conditions in spring.

In the desert southwest, the season of rest is summer, when air temperatures top 110 degrees.  Trees lose their leaves.  Animals and insects find shaded hideaways to ride out the heat until the cooler nighttime arrives.
 
It would seem that us humans are the only ones who have not figured out that we need a season of rest as well.  We scurry around like headless fowl, trying to make money for ourselves or our employers, totally blinded to the fact that God created the world to have times for rest and rejuvenation.

My plan, which has already been implemented, is to take tomorrow off as well.  I am not a doctor, a police officer, or an EMS technician.  For there is nothing so critical that my presence is needed, beyond a divinely inspired day of rest!