Fearless Faith

According to some, the hoppers are bad this year. But then again, who has hoppers and describes them as not bad? Even the most forgiving neighbors agree that the smallest of grasshopper populations can be problematic, noting the insect’s mostly indiscriminate attacks on garden produce, shrubs, trees and ornamentals. We decided to tame the high grass of the back wind break and discovered countless hoppers happily decimating all vegetation in their path. It gave us some degree of sadistic pleasure to mount the mower and drive its 29 horses into the heart of the grasshoppers, shredding weed and hopper alike, grim reapers targeting the insect world (cue maniacal laughter).

In our narrowed focus and single-minded intent, we very nearly missed something as equally amazing as the number of grasshoppers — the number of praying mantises. Praying mantids are carnivores that eat other animals and insects including grasshoppers. They were numerous and multi-colored, blending into their surroundings as no grasshopper can. Individuals in the population we observed were several inches long (up to three inches), but some species are said to grow to nearly 12 inches in length, large enough to snatch small birds and raid nests containing young animals.

On the mower, we were without question the climax species threat to the grasshoppers or so the mower deck and horsepower led us to believe. The reality may be that we have done less harm to the grasshoppers than we presume by also decimating the natural predators represented by the mantids. It is the weakness of humankind to so fully subscribe to a course of action based on what we know that we forget about the unknown, if even to take the time to watch for it. We go charging right in as if our solutions are universal and unquestioned, and just when we think we have it all neatly wrapped up, we discover a praying mantis or two.

We forget that scriptural and theological understandings continue to be mysteries which are dynamically unfolding before our very eyes. Our reluctance to engage the mystery of evolving theology is akin to plowing ahead with the mower without regard to the mantids. Even after they are brought to our attention, we pursue the same dogged course because we don’t know what else to do. Similarly, we are often too timid to acknowledge that God can withstand all our questions, our doubts, our challenges, and our stubbornness. The early Jesus movement was shocking and unorthodox, but it still took an adamant Paul decades later to boldly declare the gospel as being for Jew and Gentile alike.

In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: That is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Ephesians 3:5-6, NRSV).

Unthinkable! Unholy! Yet many had already perceived the truth of the mantids among the hoppers. Many issues today in our churches warrant significant discussion and deliberation instead of plowing in with mower blades flashing and whirring. The confortable route may not always represent the preferred route. When next you control the mower, consider the praying mantis and the unfolding dynamic radical word of Christ that they might represent.