Fire Ants and Floods

Even though I am hundreds of miles removed from the floods, Hurricane Harvey has me completely swamped. 

I can't quit checking up on my people. I stay glued to the TV and internet, crying with each waterlogged rescue and cheering on every story of human kindness. The beneficence of our Lone Star Heroes is uniquely inspirational.

My every prayer is for God to stop the deluge. I pray for the ones who have been impacted by the torrential storm as well as those who are bracing for the next onslaught. I pray that God will hold them safely in His arms and that He will unify the rest of us in love and desire to help our brothers and sisters.   

While checking Facebook today, I noticed that much of the vitriolic and divisive dialogue had been replaced with post after post offering help and support to the flood victims and links to donation sites.  And prayers.  Lots of prayers.

Then, right there in the midst of it all, I found an ironically fascinating story of the Floating Fire Ants. 

https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2017/8/27/yes-floating-fire-ant-nests-are-a-real-thing

As the article explains, fire ants have the ability to come together during a flood and hold onto each other to make a living raft. By joining together, they become strong enough to form a watertight bond which enables them to stay afloat for ridiculously long periods of time. 

It reminded me of the philosophy of Plato.  You remember Plato, don't you? He was the ancient philosopher who warned society about being so self-focused as to become void of the glue that holds it together. (Or was that the Beatles?) 

Regardless, I'm betting those fire ants don't care if their floating buddies are lighter or darker in color, or if they share the same political beliefs, or even who pays the most taxes. I'm pretty sure their egos melted away with the first drop of rain. Instead, what could have been an Ant Apocalypse somehow morphs into an organized community of cooperation and respect that manages to remain united under very stressful conditions. 

We can learn a lot from the little critters. 

These are scary and challenging times, y'all.  I think we should raft-up and hold each other tight. Because they need us and we need them and I need you and you need me... 

And we all need Jesus. 

Together, we'll ride out every storm.  

(John 16:33)