Harmless to humans, dragonflies look fearsome: most of us are a bit cautious about big insects with what appears to be a long “stinger”, but dragonflies really are no threat to us. They do not have a sting. I photographed this specimen in mid-flight (no easy task) and was suitably chuffed with the shot.
One of nature’s most effective hunters, fast and incredibly agile, dragonflies rarely miss their targets. They exist as a top-level predator in the insect world, darting and chasing at speed, and typically consume between 30 and 100 mosquitoes per day: some eat many more! They are wonderfully equipped for their role, and have carved out a successful niche in the natural order.
“Prey” means something far removed from “Pray.” So what can a dragonfly teach us of spirituality? Shall we chase people and hunt them into submission? Hardly!
They live with a clear purpose, and help control insects that can spread disease. Their page in the “Book of Creation” describes beauty alongside function. Whatever our view on the creative and evolutionary processes, surely we can experience wonder and awe through observing dragonflies (or bees, butterflies, etc.) in the order of Nature.
“Wonder” is a close relative of “worship.” For when we are faced with beautiful creatures, plants, or minerals it causes a response from the deeper part of our being. This is (almost) universal: it may be a scenic landscape, or the incredible details revealed through a microscope or telescope, or the spectacle of a lion or dragonfly- we are moved emotionally and often become open to a recognition of the “more” and “otherness” that undergirds our physical reality.
For me, the jubilation of successfully taking an in-flight photo fills me with joy and satisfaction. The picture becomes a record of a moment of splendid wonder; whenever I look at it, an echo of that wonder rings in my soul. I am “thinking God’s thoughts after Him” which prompts me to praise and then to pray. Prayer rarely exists in a vacuum: as physical creatures, our needs and experiences shape our intentions and actions. Natural stimuli are part of the process: sight, sound, touch, smell…
Choosing to spend time observing (and/or photographing) nature is also a valuable aide to our spirit. The things we value are those things we devote TIME and MONEY to. We learn patience and persistence, both indispensable in prayer.
It’s our purpose to “enjoy” God and life: are we prepared to “hunt for God” as much as we seek out entertainment?
As Joshua 24:15 puts it: “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
The Reflectionary 