I saw a brown and black caterpillar yesterday, crawling ever so slowly on the Springbank Park path. Where O where, was he going? I picked a stick and placed it before him, and waited for him to climb aboard. He did, and once I knew he had a good grip, I air-lifted him to the grass. What was he doing out and about? It was 1 degree, the last day of February, and he was strolling through the park with the rest of us!
The caterpillar doesn't have a calendar, and I see as I type that I haven't a clue about caterpillars, or their cycle of life; how pray tell, are they sustained in the harshest of winters, the coldest of days, and even the days when you and I can leave our winter coats and boots in the closet, and wear lighter gear for a brisk walk, when the weather is kind and welcoming. The caterpillars fur coat, is clearly warm enough to have him brave the chill, but what he could not see as a threat to his existence, were all the feet and wheels that could trample or roll over him, squishing life from his hairy frame.
How many times have you and I been air-lifted out of harms way? How many times have we seen the glory of God displayed in his creation, and passed them by without noticing their God glow; the spectacular on display, to brighten the flames in our own hearts?
A bunny made me cheerful the other day. He was nibbling on something just below the snow on the front lawn. Have you ever wondered where bunnies and squirrels go for shelter, when the skies open, sending sleet and hail to pummel the earth? How do they keep warm, and what food can they find? Surely, I can internet search the answers to these questions, but dear reader, some of us cower in our homes when lightning threatens to strike, and in the meanwhile, furries haven't a choice about where to lay up, until storms pass. We are "smarter than" animals, and yet, God has gifted them with life that endures, come what may, while living out of doors!
I guess it is all marvellous.
God is marvellous!
When you go walking today, look for caterpillars on the path of life... they are vulnerable to heavy feet, and could benefit from a little air-lifting to safety!
When searching for an image of this adorable thick and furry crawler, I found this wonder inspiring information:
Fat, furry, and rumoured to be able to predict the weather: that’s the woolly bear caterpillar in a nutshell.
Rust-and-black banded woolly bears are the larvae of Isabella tiger moths. They’re born completely black. Their orange-brown middle sections appear as they get older and grow longer (up to 5 cm)
So how do these caterpillars foresee the future? Allegedly, a caterpillar with a wide rust-coloured midsection and narrow black bands at either end of its body forecasts a mild winter; a caterpillar with the opposite colouration predicts a long, harsh winter. In reality, the thickness of the caterpillar’s rust or black bands has to do with its age and growth rate. Each time a woolly bear moults, the rust-coloured portion of its body gets longer.
Woolly bears are most noticeable in fall, around the time that we’re hit with the first frosts. Look for them inching across roads and driveways, on their way to find a spot to overwinter in the leaf litter or under rocks and rotting logs. Look, but don’t touch—unless you’re willing to risk a rash. Woolly bears may appear fluffy, but their coats have tiny barbs at the tips that can break off and irritate your skin.
