(Death of A Crow – The Sequel)

I pondered on my bed, I was still. Reflecting on those nice sounding words about spiritual death…

Our environment is God’s world. It is full of signs and wonders and God’s communicating hand in speaking to our soul. May the death of this crow make me appreciate more the wonders of God, made known and made possible by the death of His Son.

But how was I really doing? How was I really doing in putting it all into practice? How and to whom was I being accountable? Then I realised… I was being watched!

He stood their motionless on the clear, white vertical wall. A black spot on that vertical wall. Looking at me with a hard penetrating stare. I cannot return the stare, he is too ugly to look upon but for a brief moment. I close my eyes tightly to escape but all I see is my inward self, full of numerous black spots. I have been handed this in true Treasure Island fashion…the fear of Billy Bones grips me. I open my eyes – he’s gone! Thank God! Again at my ease I gaze about the room. No more watchers – but wait! There he is under the bookshelf. Blissfully and purposefully he has relocated. Standing on the wall in all his black and blue bellied grandeur. Resuming his inquisitive stare. Yes, I am aware of where you came from. Yes, you and your friends – there beside my bedside cabinet, one more. And then another, perched pretentiously above the crucifix.

Three.

I can no longer lie here and ponder. I need a quick escape. I close the door behind me and walk the corridor to the stairs. These will take me down to comfort, where coffee and biscuits await.

On return, I stop before the door of my room. Around the vertical frame they are there – standing motionless – standing accusingly in their black, blue bellied selves. One, two, three, four, five – no, I count 12 in all! Into the room I rush, quickly but carefully closing the door behind me so that none of them can follow. Am I safe? There are only the three here? The window! I gaze in horror at the window. That large illuminating wall of glass. I count them – one, two, three, four, five – more and more and more…

What happened to that crow whom I thought were dead? What sort of perverse resurrection has this decayed avian thrown up at me? Watching…always watching.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Revelation 12:10

Post Script – Thank God for Flies!

Flies quite literally eat poo but they also clean up other waste too, helping clean-up after us humans.

They can eat our household waste and divert it from going into landfill. The black soldier fly, for example, can have up to 600 larvae, with each of these quickly consuming half a gram of organic matter per day. This small family can eat an entire household green waste bin each year.

Flies act as scavengers consuming rotting organic matter so we don’t have to deal with it which is a very important role in the environment. If it wasn’t for flies, there would be rubbish and dead animal carcasses everywhere. A lovely thought to mull over while you’re grilling. Flies turn poo and rotting carcasses into stock feed, and live bird, frog and lizard food for free. Pretty cool if you think about it.

(www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2018/january/five-reasons-flies-are-awesome)