Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Where Have All the Grasshoppers Gone?

I try to make it worth your while if you take the time to read my blog. So I apologize if this seems a little bit fluffy and self-serving but I just have to ask - is it me, or are grasshoppers dwindling in number?

As a youngster, I was privileged to grow up in the country, on ten acres of wide open space, next to my gram's ten acres of wide open space. Mmmm. Even now I can close my eyes and pretend I'm at the top of our hill, gazing down on our houses and the winding road leading to the sheep farm down the way. If I listen carefully, I can still hear the buzzing and chirping of insects and birds a-plenty. Ahh. Summer in the country - there's nothing like it.

As much as I am a bit Monkish, I am not at all afraid of bugs. On the contrary, my sis and I were guaranteed the best grades on the yearly bug collection required for our science classes. We loved spending a morning collecting all sorts of creepy-crawlies in a mason jar, with holes punched in it for air. Having no luck with dogs, cats or the occasional sheep or chick we tried to raise, we usually had a toad or cricket as a pet. It was kind of gross but fun when you caught a grasshopper and it spit its "tobacco juice" on you, or better yet, on someone else! I always thought of grasshoppers as Jiminy Cricket's Irish counterpart. I don't remember naming any of my little critters, but something like Mick or Ian just seems to fit those bright green little characters. It would always startle us when one of the monster ones would fly up in our faces as we'd walk across the field to see what Gram had for dinner. Yep, grasshoppers were certainly a big part of our country upbringing.

But seriously, when's the last time you saw a grasshopper? Tonight my husband (a definite bug-o-phobe) flicked something off himself as he worked outside and I said it was probably a grasshopper. That got me to thinking. Have I not seen grasshoppers because there are less of them? Or am I not where they abound?

Isn't that how it is with God's blessings? Sometimes I feel like they're dwindling, like I can't see God at work. But usually it's because I'm just not looking for them, or I'm not in a place where he can bless. I didn't mean for this to turn into an spiritual analogy - that just came to me as I pondered my little green buddies. But now I want to go looking for both!

5 comments:

Susanne said...

Eww! I remember one year when first married we lived across the street from a burm, and there were so many hoppers that as you walked down the street, everytime your foot came down it make a half dozen of them fly up in front of you! Gives me the heeby jeebies. But I love the surprise of the analogy you made! Made me smile!

Katrina @ Callapidder Days said...

Although I'm not a bug person by a long stretch, grasshoppers have never bothered me, and we had a ton of them where I grew up, too (out in the country). We see an occasional one around here, but not as many as I would expect. Great analogy too, by the way!

And, speaking of bugs, check out this bug posted by Joy (a missionary in Indonesia). Now THIS is one bug I would not want to run into in my yard!

Dionna said...

I have seen two - count them - TWO grasshoppers this summer. I sure don't see as many of them as I do mosquitos!

Jeannine said...

I've seen lots of grasshoppers in my garden. I pointed some out to my middle boys today and tonight one of my boys was busy chasing after them. They must all be over at my house. :-)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post, very well put :)

I grew up in the city and have a thing about bugs. I married the epitomy of a country boy though, and am starting to understand about country life, wide open spaces, bugs and critters, and all of the stuff that goes along with living in the country. But, now that you've pointed it out, even at my in-laws, I don't see grasshoppers much. Not that I've ever seen many. I more of a bug-a-phobe like your hubby!

Loved the analogy, very true. We miss so many things, I think, because we're not looking for them or just refuse to give up our control and let ourselves see them.

Again, great post - have a wonderful day!