Slugs

Good morning.

Recently I was annoyed to see a large slug sliding across my kitchen windowsill. My plants had been nibbled and slimed and I was not amused. Tossing the slug outside, I closed all access routes. Then I noticed near the original spot, four other slugs—a slug family!— the tiniest less than a centimetre long. Feeling guilty for my treatment of the largest slug, I gently placed the others on a safe surface outside. Come morning, they were gone.

These gastropods brought me back to my science teaching days when I gave sea snails to my year-9 students to study. These young people lived by the ocean yet never noticed the small creatures right under their noses. As they sketched and recorded their observations, one group sang to their snails, discovering that some melodies caused the snails to retreat while others encouraged the animals to emerge and explore. Replaying this scene in my mind, I smiled. Just as I’d taught my students to slow down and really see their snails, my windowsill slugs had taught me to pay attention to the small details.

In the book of Psalms we read: 'Teach us to treasure each day, that we may open our hearts to Your wisdom'.

Many of us may be so busy rushing from one task to the next that everyday wonders and blessings slip away.

Let us treasure each day, and find blessings in the small things, that we open to wonder and wisdom.