My mind is far off. Focused on other things, my wife’s words do not register. “Please repeat that?” I ask. She’s used to me being far off and indulges me.

“There is some kind of large bug on the window frame of the living room window.” I think that’s about what she said. But, it was enough to bring me to the present: the here and now. I’ve learned that when she spots something in nature it’s worth looking at.

This “bug” was really worth more than just a look. It was photogenic. I knew I’d seen it before. But there was no name in my mind for it. After a bit of searching the name Azalea Sphinx Moth matched the photo. It always feels good to identify something. There are some good reasons to identify things. Perhaps the first is-in these posts, you always want to know. The second is, things do have a name. It’s good to call things by name.

The Azalea Sphinx moth is large. This one was about 2 ½ inches from wing tip to wing tip. It is a phenomenal creature. It can fly around 12 miles an hour. Hold on, I know what you are thinking-you aren’t impressed. The back story will raise your eyebrows. In order to fly it must raise the temperature inside its thorax (where the wings are attached) to 96 degrees F. It can do that! The moth quivers its wing muscles…and the thorax warms. You skeptics are still not impressed. This next fact will delight you. This means Azalea Sphinx moth can fly in cool temperatures that ground other flying insects. After warming up-it flies…even in cool air.

It is the caterpillar which gives the moth the sphinx label. Sphinx moth caterpillars have a defense mechanism. When threatened the caterpillar raises the front part of its body, retracts its head and strikes a still pose just a little like an upside-down Egyptian Sphinx. OK, it’s a stretch, but if you ever touch a caterpillar, you’ll know it’s true.

Knowing the name of this moth opened the largely hidden world of this mostly night time creature. Without its name, about all I could do is appreciate its beauty. Turns out, knowing the name of something is a requirement if knowing more about a nature topic is your goal. But even when you know the name of some bird, insect or animal, research is required to discover more. Ultimately, knowing the name still never uncovers all the mystery of a natural subject. Nature has secrets.

Knowing the name of something in nature reminds me that God knows our names.

…I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1b

He knows yours. He knows mine. Not only does God know our names, He knows everything about us.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1

There are no secrets with Him. He never needs a field guide to look in to find out who we are. He doesn’t need to take a photo of us. He already sees us. He never says, “I think I know who this is.” He knows. He knew us before we were born. All our days are written in His eternal record-before one of them happened. He knows our names because we are vitally important to Him. That’s because He loves you and me.

Think of it…God, the ONE who made the Azalea Sphinx moth able to warm its wings to fly…and the universe…knows our names. He never forgets. He never leaves us. His great love gives us our next breath.