This morning I sat down at my computer and do something that I enjoy doing. I take a long look at the world outside my window. Now you must know that my window doesn’t have a great view. It does not compare to the mountains that I used to look out upon in Alaska. It is mainly a stretch of grass behind the Church and currently a soy bean field. I do occasionally get to see squirrels and there was a bird that had a nest on the downspout right next to my window. But mostly it would be considered by many a lot of boring nothing.

Today there was something different in my line of view. Between the window and the screen there is a fairly large spider. It is black and it is a little larger than a nickel. I don’t know when or how it arrived in my window but it has had long enough time to build a makeshift web in each corner. Not the kind of beautiful web found in paintings or Halloween decorations. It looks more like a cotton ball that has been pulled apart for a children’s class project.

In his ugly web there are the remains of a fly, two other creatures and what looks like the wings of a rather large bug. It is very clear that his plan has worked. Personally, I would not have thought that very many insects would be able to get between my glass and that screen, but I would be wrong. My spider appears to be living a happy and abundant life.

Today the spider reminded me of a simple Biblical principle. Jesus tells his followers to look at the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. He challenges them to see how God dresses them and takes care of them. They don’t worry about their life and they have everything they need. This spider found a small place in the corner of my world and God is taking good care of it. It has food, shelter and even a view. What more could a spider want?

Here I set thinking of a slightly different take on scripture. “Look to the spider, they find a place and make a web and the Lord takes care of them. Are you not worth much more than a spider?”