Creatorwords counsel #1: Make time to go to wild places-regularly. Your soul needs time in wild places.

We were camping in a Minnesota State Park. These places have many nature surprises. Time in them fills my memory with numerous pleasant things for thought.  The sight of the rising moon and two planets in the southwest on our first evening caused us to pause in wonder. Lost sleep that evening came from the strong northwest wind forecast to begin during the night. It did. We were camped by one of the largest freshwater lakes in Minnesota. Eighteen miles of open water tossed by Northwest winds over 40 mph created waves and the hiss of rushing water my ears can still hear. The gathering of migratory birds, Redstarts, Warblers, Phoebes and others in a wind free part of the woods of the park created new mystery…when would they move further south? Where had they come from? Did the wind enable them to fly? Time in this wild place, even a state park, created memories which continued to last for days afterward.

Creatorwords counsel #2: Nature is filled with details…pay attention to the details. Kids are better at this than adults!

There was another event which occurred on the camp out my wife experienced in that state park which could be considered a minor detail. Many people would have literally brushed it off and gone on with what they were doing. There was a moth on our camper. Two thoughts came to mind. First-It will be good to keep this insect alive. Second, I did not know what kind of moth it was. Its coloration and wing pattern intrigued me. My camera was a useful tool for recording what it looked like. Taking photos of it caused me to observe it more carefully than when it was on the camper wall. The photos revealed even more detail.

The moth is called an Ash-tip Borer. True to its name it lives in ash trees. The moth does not eat ash trees, but its larva does. The larva of the Ash-tip Borer hatch from eggs the moth in this photo will lay on Ash trees before winter. (Let’s assume it is a female.) The eggs will overwinter in the location on the tree where they are laid. They survive being frozen! When the relatively warm temperatures of spring arrive, the egg of the Ash-tip Borer will hatch and become boring caterpillars. Boring, like creating holes in things. In this case its tunnels in the tips of ash and box elder trees. In large trees the caterpillars do not cause serious problems. In a large tree the caterpillar activity may act as a helpful pruning event which does not harm the tree. Smaller trees may be damaged if there are too many caterpillars. But we should consider this…The Ash-tip Borer moth is found to live from Canada, the USA, and Mexico. It is not found from the Rockies and west. What is the point? If the Ash-tip Borer moth were a problem for trees, wouldn’t the eastern half of North America have fewer trees?

Creatorwords counsel #3: The wisdom of God can be seen in the details of nature.

There are literally thousands and thousands living illustrations which prove both the existence of God and His infinite wisdom. This beautiful moth is one example-small at that. The Ash-borer Moth fits in a specialized niche in the food chains of North American deciduous forests. It keeps forests healthy through the boring/pruning activity of its caterpillar. In turn, Ash-tip Moth caterpillars are food to many other animals. And the adult moths feed the bats of the forests.

I almost swept this moth from the wall of our camper. I almost discarded any further consideration of this mysterious creature. It would have been a mistake. Look at the little things in nature.

Consider with me further evidence of the wisdom of God as seen by the coloration of the Ash-tip Borer Moth. First, the white dots on the wings. They are symmetrical. The same number and location are found on each wing. There are three dots on the upper part of the wing.  The middle dot is smaller than the two on either side. There are two white dots on the lower portion of each wing. Don’t they look like two cracked eggs with the yolk flowing in between? Use your eyes to carefully study the patterns of tan and brown on the wings. It forms exceptionally eye catching camouflage.

Consider also the physical characteristics of this moth. While you do, another thought forms: the more you consider, the easier it is to see the wisdom of God. First look at the large eyes of this insect. Why so large? The Ash-tip Borer is nocturnal. Active at night, its large eyes allow it night vision to find a mate. Though I am not certain, I believe this moth has no mouth. That’s because it does not eat. Eating is what the caterpillar did-to develop into the moth it becomes. The adults live to mate, reproduce and then they die. Freezing weather will end the lives of any still living anyway. Why the large eyes?... for sight in the darkness of night.

There are other physical features which shout God’s wisdom. You cannot ignore the furry legs, the furry back, the furry antenna. While it is not fur, but resembles it, moths are covered with scales like butterflies. The difference is moth scales stick up. Why? This is wonderful…more wisdom is evident. Adult Ash-tip Borer moths are active at night. Yes, you say…you already told me about the eyes. But there’s more to the night time awe. It is astounding. Ash-tip Borer moths pupate during summer days. They emerge in late summer and early fall. These nights can become cool. The “furry” scales of this moth enable it to maintain body heat. Insects are cold blooded. To find a mate, and lay its eggs requires the moth to be active during the night, not slow moving from the cold. Did you know the moth scales are also waterproof? Have we accumulated enough amazing physical characteristics to be able to say this moth is no accident? It was designed to live in North American forests.

Now for the word from God’s Word:

“How many are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

Why is time in a wild place good for your soul?

The wisdom of God can seen. He made our souls to connect with Him, and we connect when we see and think about what He has made. All of the earth has been made that we might know Him…His infinite power and love.