The Lord God Made Them All - Incredible Diversity

Anybody with an AOL Email account probably noticed that exquisite photo of a Rufous Hummingbird today each time they signed on. The close-up was dramatic, every little feather delicately caught by the lens, and every tiny detail of this glorious little creature available for us to see. God created a lovely creature.

Many times, at a stoplight, or walking, or riding, I find myself looking at the amazing variety in God's handiwork. I am in awe, at those times, by a simple leaf. I look at each tree or bush or flower within my area of visibility. There is an incredible assortment of leaves. Colors, shapes, weights, sizes, scents, textures - all different. What an incredible God he is, to take the time and love to create each one.

Moving from the simple leaf to birds to man, my mind finds the diversity to be stunning and overwhelming. Siblings with the family nose are still each unique. Different eyelashes, irises, finger shapes, earlobes, skin tones. How amazing it all is.

My nephew always found the act of creation a source of wonder whenever he considered the Platypus. He always teased that God took all the leftover parts from all the other animals, and tossed them together for that unique being. Teasing aside, even the plainest of creatures has something within it that we can appreciate.

Why can't we succeed in taking it a step further to appreciate all the differences in each of us, not just the superficial ones? I need to pray for enough grace so that I may love their reserve or their arrogance, their booming voices or their silent signings, and their joy or their sadness.

Holy Lord, you created each individual cell of each individual creature around us. Fill me, and all of us, with the desire to appreciate the beauty hidden in each one.