Lessons from a Beetle...

Stopped and watched a beetle on the frosted glass covering of a light. The glass was nothing fancy, just a long rectangular vanity fixture that curved around the bulbs and is open on three sides.

The beetle scurried from side to side, criss-crossing back and forth, crawling up the sides of the glass, stopping by the bolts. As if it was frantic to escape the light. To run from the heat. Maybe he saw the remnants of other bugs who had stopped there to long and fried and that made him move faster, try harder.

Unfortunately, he kept going over the same ground. Like he moved in a big circle, always trying to find that safe passage, and returning to the same end.

He'd crawl to upper edges of the glass, reach the edge and stop, crawl to the bottom again, reach the edge and stop. Almost as if he'd was afraid to go beyond the glass road he was on for fear he'd fall into oblivion or death. So much so, he wouldn't crawl around the glass to the cooler side. 

Who knows?

So I waited and watched as he skittered back and forth, then I held up a stick, hoping he'd crawl on and I could carry him outside to freedom. The beetle ran away, frightened perhaps by the great unknown. And each time I tried he did the same.

Strangely, he kept running, kept trying dodge the light. The heat. Settling only when I turned off the light.

It made me think …

Because God loved the world and mankind so much, He sent a gift of life and truth to us in the form of Christ Jesus. His son. He freely waits at the end of that glass with open arms of love.

But so many run from him, from the light, afraid it will burn them. Afraid to come out of the darkness, step to the edge, step off and trust. This, even though they can't stand their lives in the darkness. This, though they keep praying for someone to help them.

How many run from the hand that truly wants to help? Finding it so foreign, it sends them scurrying away from the light, searching for the darkness. For the place where they can hide? For the place they don't have to deal with the truth?

Sadly they don't understand… that falling into that light can bring life.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:1-5