All Creatures Great and Small

Yesterday I killed a wasp. Today I wake and find my heart is heavy with sadness for the life of one of God’s creatures. We do it all the time; step on an ant, swat a fly, spray insecticide on our garden plants – they are after all “pests” aren’t’ they?

It was late in the afternoon, the sun behind dark clouds that were avoiding us and so the heat was almost bearable on the back porch. Suddenly my husband said from across the porch, “There is a wasp by your head.” For some odd reason I did not run or even move, but sat motionless with my hand resting on my glass of wine.

The wasp flew to the lip of my wine glass and I tried to blow him off. After all, I was able to gently blow a billiards ball into the pocket of the pool table impressing my two-year-old grandson. Surely, I could blow away a wasp.

He flew to the plant on the table next to me and back to my glass. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be long before he dived into the wine for a swim.

My husband went to get some newspaper. As he did, the wasp landed on my hand. I looked at him and for a fraction of a second there was a connection between one of God’s creatures and myself. He tiptoed along my finger and hopped back onto my glass. About that time my husband returned. I lifted my glass and turned away as he swatted the wasp, killing him. It had to be done; after all he had entered our world. Had he stayed outside with all the other creatures, he would have been safe. Seeing my sadness my husband reminded me of my garden spider who lives just outside my kitchen window and although appears frightening, is in fact a friend, not a pest.

Yeah. I can keep coming up with excuses and I know people will make fun of me for being sad over killing an insect. But there is a lesson in this experience for me and everyone who reads this. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.”

I recognize and bless the Divine life in all creatures I encounter (whether they are human or insect). I also forgive myself any instances wherein I don’t live up to those intentions. And doing so, the grief of my heart is relieved and I once again am filled with joy and love for my own life and the lives of all who touch my life.

“Countless are the things you have made, LORD; by your wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” ~ Psalm 104:24

http://youtu.be/eLeq2vj9kcA

Something to Write About

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most talented authors in the area. Over twenty were at the Chattanooga Writers’ Guild meeting laden with books, computers, magazines, journals, postcards, posters, and pen in hand to sign a sold book.

I had hoped to prepare them in the event the turnout was not what they expected. And to remember that no matter how many people came to this event, it did not diminish the work they have accomplished as writers. Most of them have other careers including professors at several colleges and universities, business men and women, counselors, and scientists to name a few.

It was a perfect opportunity for them to network as well. But from one writer to another, it was all of our hopes to have a huge crowd buying books. I will look at the evaluation sheets I had the writers fill out and see what I can suggest to the CWG board next year. For this is my last year on the CWG board as it is in our bylaws that one can serve a maximum of three years, and since the first meeting of the year is in September, it was my last time to plan a program as well.

It has been a good three years. I have met some great people and served on the board with a wonderful group of men and women dedicated to making the CWG a great organization meeting the needs of writers in and around the Chattanooga area. I still plan to remain active in the CWG because who would not want to get opportunities like last night?

I met a young woman who wrote her first book and got to see her smile and eyes shine with pride. I met a professor at Dalton State College who told me about some writing classes coming up. I saw a friend who gave me a tip on a story for Catoosa Life Magazine’s September/October issue. I made a new friend in a writer who invited me to help start a new writing group and who told me that another writer, Nancy Williams, who I had not seen in a year or so had died recently. And that made me sad. And then I met a woman from Cleveland who was friends with Marcia Brantley, the missing Cleveland woman who is presumed dead. The last time I saw Marcia was at the CWG board meeting when she was going off the board and and I was coming on. She disappeared right after that, hopefully by choice and not by ill fate. I don’t plan to disappear.

My thoughts are with Nancy’s and Marcia’s family and friends and with all the talented and successful writers that I had the honor of sharing a celebration of publication last night. It was something to write about!