24
Walking along the Quay this afternoon we were enjoying watching a family of 8 ducklings when a gull appeared and then there were 7. Nature red in tooth and claw, but you still feel sadness and anger that something weaker could not defend itself, and something with so much potential ahead of it had its life cut short. It’s an image that we can apply to human beings as well – where the weak are not necessarily just the young in years, and those with potential ahead of them could be of middling or older years. It’s easier to mourn a duckling than a seagull or magpie. It’s easier to feel sad or angry if the human life lost is an ‘innocent’ person. But every life is special, every life has potential. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not so or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Lord, help us to appreciate and value life, whether it’s trees and plants, birds, fish or animals, or human beings. Help us to shield and stand up for the weak and vulnerable. Help us also to recognise that your love encompasses everyone, and you want us to work for a world where all are included, and everyone is respected for who they are
PS Castle Urquhart Loch Ness (a long time ago)
