My Sunday Thought for 082017: The Smallest of Creatures

Updated from my post of June 24,2013:

I was doing a photoshoot on a golf course and happened upon this opportunity.  Its hard to make out the honey bee atop the flower, mid-photo.  It isn't the greatest of shots and the size doesn't help, but it set my mind to thinking, as is usual when I am alone on the front nine.  I was reminded of the final paragraph of H.G. Wells' timeless novel, War of the Worlds:

"But there are no bacteria in Mars, and directly these invaders arrived, directly they drank and fed, our microscopic allies began to work their overthrow. Already when I watched them they were irrevocably doomed, dying and rotting even as they went to and fro. It was inevitable. By the toll of a billion deaths man has bought his birthright of the earth, and it is his against all comers; it would still be his were the Martians ten times as mighty as they are. For neither do men live nor die in vain."

I thought of this tiny creature on the flower and of the bacteria that won our planet back from the Martian invaders in Wells' novel.  Not often do many of us take a moment to consider the smallest of God's creatures, other than in some bothersome context and, of course, ridding ourselves of the pests. Yet, do we ever consider the good they do and the role they play on the earth?  Man, on the other hand, is hell bent on creating a paradise at the expense of breathable air and drinkable water.  The pests actually keep the world in balance, whereas we seem to care less that they actually serve a purpose.  We're the more intelligent species?  I don't see these itty-bitty "pests" destroying their environment.

And, while we're at it, why don't we remember that the least of us, and the meek, will probably inherit the earth.  Let this be of some comfort to those of us who fight to stay on top of... whatever selfish goal we're chasing, right?  Our birthright is the earth?  We sure as hell don't act like it.  Our sole purpose should be as caretakers, to protect it, not to destroy it and ourselves.  Although destroying ourselves would seem to serve the greater good, to what end, to what purpose does that serve mankind?

"For neither do men live nor die in vain." Oh, so much bullshit!  Men live and die in vain all the time, most of us are just too wrapped up in ourselves to understand it until we shed our mortal shell and rediscover truth as we travel back from whence we came.  What purpose does life, here, serve?

More to the point, what purpose do you serve and, more importantly, why?

Note to the U.S. federal government: If you want everyone on board with saving the environment, eco-friendly things have to be affordable to more than just the rich. If Tata Motors can produce a two cylinder car in India and sell it for $2000, why does it have to cost $10,000, or more, by the time it get to us? Why does a tiny Smart car cost $20,000 or more, and why does the new electric Tesla run over $30,000? Why would a person trying to feed their family get on board with these products when it is easier to buy a full size sedan, a gas guzzler, for less money?  As we continue to kick the proverbial can down the road, the beat goes on... for a little while longer, at any rate.  Our earth abides us for only so long; her nature will find a way to regain balance lost.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.