How do small things make you feel? Do you sense their vulnerability and seek to protect them? Or does their smallness seem irritating and invasive, as they tug you out of your comfort zone?
Regardless of where we find ourselves, there will always be those among us who will be more vulnerable than others. They may be very small in size like this baby red-backed salamander, or, although a bit bigger, they may suddenly find themselves in situations they aren’t prepared to handle on their own.
Sometimes they manage fine without our intervention. Sometimes they don’t.
Awareness is key. If we don’t know of the small and vulnerable in our environment, how can we be expected to act on their behalf? Or, at the very least, do them no harm?
It’s through the small things that we develop our moral imagination, so that we can understand the suffering of others.
~ Alexander McCall Smith
Text and photographs copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2017
Good to hear from you again!
Yes, it’s been a while 😉 Thanks for coming by Adrienne.
Thanks for this very meaningful message and thoughtful photos. So good to hear from you.
Margaret
Thanks Margaret. So good to post again 🙂
So very true, a very timely post.
Uphilldowndale, timely at any time perhaps? Little things are so often overlooked.
Hello thank you for your post about the small animals that are vulnerable and need out extra protection and how it represents human beings who are vulnerable or like me very sensitive !and rejection can feel like an Arrow in the soul a spiritual blow that can send some one into a deep depression and even despair! but thanks to God Our Lord Jesus Christ who is always ready to lift us out of our dark hole so bringing joy thanks and praise to Him who loved us and gave himself for us!bringing thanks for His wonderful creation of all the humans animals and beautiful plants that decorate the world he made. James Hobbs. England.
James, being very sensitive can indeed make one more vulnerable at times, but it is also a gift as it can give extra insight into the wonders of the world that others may not notice. Truly, the Lord is always ready to lift us out of any dark hole we may fall into or dig for ourselves.
When anyone mentions despair, I always think of Anne of Green Gables’ conversation with her Aunt Marilla:
Anne Shirley: Can’t you even imagine you’re in the depths of despair?
Marilla Cuthbert: No I cannot. To despair is to turn your back on God.
So glad you too find delight in His creation 🙂
So glad to see this marvellous thought provoking post.
Thanks Sybil. Finally succumbed to the pressure from toi to post 🙂
There is a story, I think it was attributed to Buddha. Once when he was travelling through a forest with his disciples he grew thirsty. He stopped and instructed one of his disciples to fetch water. The disciple took inordinately long to bring water. When asked what took him so long, the disciple explained that there were ants on the path to the pond and that slowed him as he didn’t want to trample them. Buddha simply told him that he wasn’t practicing non-violence when he avoided stepping on the ants!
My take is that, we are moved by animals when we have direct contact with them. But what about our lifestyle and consumerism.
Sorry, I got a bit heavy 🙂
Glad to see you again. Hope you are doing well Amy 🙂
Amy Lynn, it was delightful to read your thoughts after such a long hiatus. And to remember once again the preciousness of little things, little creatures, little birthings. I hope all is going well in your world. I am fondly remembering those earlier days when we connected much more. Sending love from afar! xoxoxoxo