Still Alive

For some reason, the vision of the disappearing mosquito hawk has lingered in a more prominent place in my memory than it should. After all, the mosquito hawk was the not the central character in this life and death drama which unfolded on the hood of the truck. (See preceding post.) Of course, if mosquito hawks could talk, it might beg to differ! In a sense the mosquito hawk came back to life last night as I was doing some reading in the Kingsolver book entitled, "Animals, Vegetables, Miracle." While she was writing about taking the lives of animals on the farm for food, I immediately thought, "Ah, the mosquito hawk!"

She quoted some lines from Kahlil Gibran.

"When you kill a beast, say to him in your heart:

By the same power that slays you, I too am slain, and I too

shall be consumed.

For the law that delivers you into my hand shall deliver me

into a mightier hand.

Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds

the tree of heaven."

While it may seem strange to quote such a verse, it gave closure to the death of the mosquito hawk. And, of course, in these days when the ashes of Ash Wednesday have scarcely disappeared and the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return" are still lingering in the air, it seems somehow like a God word for me that offers a measure of perspective.