Creation, flawless as it is, is sometimes hard for us humans to understand. I know we all have different opinions when it comes to creation, and this discussion is not about that…..Mother Nature has pretty well put together how things work, the sun, the seasons, the temperature, the  chloroform idea, the magnetic field, and on and on.  I know there are a few forms of life we question when they over run our picnic tables, or swallow a deer whole, but since I wasn’t called on at the time of ‘making stuff’, I should be happy that I don’t have more or less anything.

But every now and then, I walk into sadness.  I know, we all have families, and friends who have passed, or have a certain type of chronic illness,  but at least, as humans, we have the ability to communicate our sorrow, our understanding, and our help.

My sadness comes for those, I can’t communicate with.   I know animals die in the forest, I know plants wither, but when it happens en mass, it is striking to the heart.   On the beaches of  south Florida, this time of year, the fighting conches are mating and dying.  They are wonderful little ‘people’ who spend their lives int he Gulf of Mexico.  They come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and have a ‘foot claw’ that helps them move along in the sand.  They aren’t scary and don’t bite or sting or spit.  They are just wonderful little beings.

They become more human when you see them look up at you with their little telescopic eyes….they stick out of their shell, one on each side, and watch. Their eyes are on the end of the long telescopes…it is so cool!

Laws supposedly prohibit anyone from taking more than two live shells per day from the gulf…….right….. we could fill the local jails with people who bag these creatures by the hundreds …..and then are appalled at anyone who tells them to put the little guys back.  Another story….another time.

So now is the time of the year when the conchs come to mate.  I repeat, I know life and death are certain, but it causes one to pause when low tide uncovers the dead and dying by the thousands.  They leave us for their hereafter, and it doesn’t happen quickly…..Mother Nature steps in to see that their remains are taken care of by the local birds and hermit crabs. Admittedly, she has thought of everything, in spite of our doubts, but the whole thing is just hard to watch.  I am part of the cleanup  committee too.  Their colorful shells are carefully cleaned and used for decoration, crafts, and sent to schools where little ones learn about the sea.

All I’m say’in is, dang, when you are hit in the face with thousands of anything dying, it should have an effect on you.  How we treat  our fellow-man, how we treat our earth, and how we should care for every creature with love and respect, should cross our minds each time we walk around a life and not on it.

Handling sickness and death with love and compassion…..whether it is your friend, your pet, or the fighting conch is something we should strive for. Although we cannot change migration without dire consequences, we can feed those who are hungry and care for those who are alone and afraid.

Little eyes are little eyes, no matter who they belong to…….