We saw this little guy on our walk around the neighborhood last Saturday. It’s usually hard for me to get pictures of squirrels, because they scurry around and hardly ever slow down long enough for a good photo! This one stopped as if posing and begging me to take his picture!
I have to confess that we tolerate squirrels in our yard, rather than adore them, as many nature-lovers do. They are pesky little creatures when it comes to digging up and eating flowering bulbs we have planted, eating tomatoes and other crops before they are quite ripe enough to harvest, tearing up bird feeders, and playing leap-frog right in the middle of our most delicate blooming plants! I assure you they get MORE than their fair share of bird seed from our ‘squirrel-proof’ feeders, so we do help to take care of them and provide for their welfare.
I decided to use this picture tonight because the behavior of the squirrel is in stark contrast to what I have observed the last couple of days about the Japanese people. The squirrels dominate our back yard, scurry around grabbing whatever they want to eat, haul off the surplus to bury for later consumption, and never appear willing to share with the little birds.
Have you heard about the crime and looting that is rampant in Japan right now? No?! Well, of course not — because there isn’t any to speak of. We have been very impressed with the calmness and cooperation exhibited by the thousands of people waiting patiently for hours to get food, water, or gasoline. They are exercising discipline by voluntarily conserving electricity to help prevent rolling outages in the areas that still have power. There are several explanations for this behavior — including religion, culture, and the political climate of their country. I have my own theories, but I am not well enough educated to suggest any explanation. I do know, however, that it is very different from what goes on in parts of our country, particularly in large metropolitan areas. I commend the Japanese people. I feel even more inclined to want to help them when I see how very hard they are trying to help themselves and cooperate with their neighbors.
While on the subject of Japan, I’d like to offer a link to something Anne Graham Lotz posted the other day: FIVE THINGS A STORM CAN’T DESTROY. It is an encouraging and thought-provoking resource for any of us when we need to find shelter from the storms of life. Of course, it’s best to find our shelter ahead of the storm and be prepared before disaster strikes.
My prayers — and I’m sure yours, too — continue to be with the people of Japan, their loved ones, and all who are working feverishly under very harsh conditions to rescue them and bring relief to these troubled people.
I want to leave you with another ‘sighting’ from our walk on Saturday — one of the many beautiful Bradford pear trees that are blooming in our neighborhood. These pictures were taken with my camera phone; I will have some clearer ones to post later. The pear trees are such a refreshing way to come to the end of winter and experience the beginning of spring!
It’s hard to believe daylight savings time is here again. I hope you are looking forward to more daylight in the evenings to enjoy the beginning of spring. Dark mornings are no fun for getting up and going to work or school, but first light will come earlier with each passing day!
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