In church we regularly pray for peace and resolution of conflict, not just on the domestic scene but also throughout the world. There’re not many places where there isn’t some kind of conflict: inter-racial, tribal, political, fights over resources and territory, disagreement about religion and culture.
Millions of people desperately seek refuge far from their native country, fleeing from violence and persecution, prepared to abandon their homes and heritage in order to seek peace and a safer life, not just for themselves but especially for their children.
As I read news and catch various media reports, I thought back to a piece I wrote some years ago. It reminds me very much of the battles taking place between rulers and leaders in the world of 2018.
Nothing much has changed. If anything, things have become worse.
There are no winners in these conflicts, just death and destruction and misery and loss. The event I witnessed reminded me of several world conflicts that are happening right now.
This is a true story about a spider and a wasp.
Something I have never seen, before or since. We were about to stack some newly delivered firewood, accompanied by two scarlet robins, those gorgeous opportunists who always turn up to pick out the insects in freshly cut wood. As I admired the deft movements of the robins, I became aware of a very loud buzzing.
Glancing upwards, I saw something I have never seen before. Suspended from a white gum branch was a very large black spider and entangled with this spider was a very large (and angry) European wasp.
Cautiously, I drew closer.
I could see the wasp repeatedly lunging at the spider, while the spider attempted to hold the wasp in its jaws to inject its poison. Round and round they spun, the spider’s spinnerets slowly winding out a glistening thread, so that as the combatants spun they descended slowly towards the woodpile below.
Legs, wings, jaws, sting, all whirled madly in mid-air, accompanied by a frenzied buzzing.
I don’t know who disturbed whom. Spiders and wasps have rather different cultures, but one of them had obviously intruded on the other’s patch. Two beautiful and complex creatures who normally mind their own business were now fighting to the death. The frenzy diminished as they lowered, and after only a few minutes the powerful combatants lay spent on the ground. Neither had won – each destroyed by the other.
It all seemed so pointless.
Purists say we should not ‘anthropomorphise’ – attribute human qualities to non-humans. Hmmm ... there are times when it is tempting.
But we really do need to make the effort to remind ourselves that this is still God’s world and we must not forget that.
Sheelagh Wegman, BA, IPEd Accredited Editor is a freelance editor and writer. She enjoys cooking, sings in the choir of St David’s Cathedral in Hobart and lives in natural bushland on the foothills of Mt Wellington.
Sheelagh Wegman’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/sheelagh-wegman.html