Resilience and Tenacity

Resilience is: the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. A second use of the word means: the ability of an object to bounce back into shape. Tenacity is: being able to grasp something firmly; being determined; continuing to exist, to persevere.

There has been a lot of publicity about the dangerous loss of monarch butterflies. These animals are not only beautiful, but they are pollinators, as well. Much of their habitat is being destroyed, which in turn is proving disastrous to these flying stained glass pieces. How sad.

Due to changes in our environment, whether from natural disasters, or man's folly and greed, the monarchs are only one species of many, both animals and plants, which are no longer thriving. I am amazed to see the way entire trees grow from one small crevice, or a plant will fight to survive in the weirdest places.

Unless you live in South Jersey, many of you may be unfamiliar with the lowly horseshoe crab. It is not a crab at all, but more likely a cousin of the spider family. They are quite homely, but very useful. Because of that, they are being over harvested and impacted by weather and the quality of water. After spawning, the journey back into the bay can be treacherous, and some never make it. The species is harvested for their blood used in the pharmaceutical industry. Fortunately, most of the critters survive the process, but new technology should make the practice obsolete as a new chemical is being developed to accomplish the same job. They have been around for over 480 million years. This kind of thinking and work need to be applied to so many other areas where this beautiful world God gave us, is slowly dying. In the spring, thousands of shore birds, including the endangered red turn knots, land on the local shores of southern New Jersey where the horseshoe crabs lay their eggs.They are a primary source of sustenance as the birds continue their long flights to their summer homes. The stress on the crabs is resulting in less food for the migrating birds, which will impact their longevity, as well.

There is a small light house on the Delaware Bay which has been a sentinel for ships since 1849, the second oldest light house in New Jersey. It continues to serve as a navigational tool and was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, it was completely restored and refurbrished. Sadly, the encroachment of the Delaware Bay with rising tides and more destructive storms, is taking a toll on this much-loved landmark. Attempts are being made to protect it, but it is unlikely to survive. Humanity is also facing several threats and challenges. How we need resilience and tenacity! I intended to post monthly; however, major health complications altered my plans. How, I needed to be able to come back, and to persevere. Not only is the pandemic wrecking havoc on our world, but the usual "wars and rumors of wars", famine, storms, earthquakes, and fire are also causing unimaginable suffering. I could go on, but the intention of this blog is to uplift and encourage, even in the midst of all of our pain.

Are we to "curse God and die,"as Job was encouraged to do by his friends? Will we allow these things to destroy us? Or could it be that doors are opening for people to reach out and help each other? Opportunities to show our better side? Prospects to show what love really is? Muscles that are not used, quickly atrophy. What about our faith muscles? Can they be strengthened? When I considered this theme, I wasn't sure I had appropriate pictures to illustrate my point, or if I had enough to make it worthwhile. Well, I have some I did not even post! What photos might you find to represent the challenges in your life? Have you had opportunity to see God at work? Are there shots that you look at repeatedly because they bring positive thoughts to mind? In this present days of trouble, what moves your heart to respond? "My strength is sufficient.. my strength is made perfect in weakness" II Corinthians 12:9