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

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