Monday, May 18, 2009
ON THE LIVES OF WORMS
Dear Seekers of Survival:
The singular focus of an earthworm out of its natural environment becomes survival. Mornings after a night rain I find them on the walkway to my shop building, having escaped the danger of drowning only to find themselves facing the new dangers of being stepped on, or eaten by birds or ants, or ultimately to simply dry up and die. Couldn't Earthworms find a permanent environment to be rid of the dangers to their survival?
"Lord, I do not want my imagination to twist Holy Scripture in order to match my conclusions, but I want Your Words to shape my various reflections and encouragements so that I may become like You. Amen in Christ Jesus."
Imagine a "revolt of worms," where they rise up and attack the "Lord of Sidewalks," doing so blindly, but swinging in every direction trying to slime their enemies to death. Such are we! The men guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things to him."
Luke 22:63-65
Men are the pinnacle of God's creation, and we are greater than worms, but no less challenged by various dangers to our survival. When I encounter a worm's plight, I see them writhing to get back into the moisture of their natural environment. Failure to do so means certain death, and often, as the day gets later, the sun dries them up, while others are quickly drying out. I am emotionally moved when I see their struggle, and I reach down and move them into the grass. Immediately they begin poking deeply for a passage to safety and survival.
Their desire to live, is very close to my own heart, and so I have compassion on worms. It's not a big thing in the scheme of things, but then again, maybe it is. Jesus has moved me back into an environment full of life, where I am privileged to "poke" around for grace, for myself, and others. I am a worm who has been gifted with eyes, ears, heart and hands, and with a creative imagination, desiring to be shaped into the image which God has in mind. He is the Rescuer of my drying out soul, and He is making rescuers of us all with hearts which want to save.
What a funny way for us "worms" to think and act - it is simply the audacity of faith. What a grand lesson those little creatures can teach us! Indeed, every living thing, in one way or another, points to, and illustrates, our Creator. Further, inanimate living things do as well!
And now we are getting very close to seeing Jesus audaciously transform our "wormhood" into "children of the Living God." It is an environment for the living, and it is good to talk His talk, but better still when we "walk His walk," looking for "drying out" souls. There is much to be done!
Lowell Martin
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