Daily Devotionals

Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life

Devotional: February 7th

You won't see them at first. You won't know that they have arrived until their familiar calls start to fill the air. And fill the air they will. They'll set up a cacaphanous din that will be heard for miles around. One of the most amazing biological wonders of all time is coming; Brood X - the seventeen year cicada.

The cicadas are an amazing breed of insect. Most insects reproduce very quickly and easily, live a short life and die. A common housefly will reproduce a thousand times compared to one cycle of life for the cicada. Even the elephant, a mammal, is a marvel of speed in delivering her young, though she carries them for a year. The only reason the cicadas come out is to reproduce.

They emerge from their underground dwelling, where they have been living in the nymph stage, every thirteen to seventeen years. This makes them easily the longest living insects in the world. At least twelve broods of seventeen year cicadas exist with another three broods of the thirteen year variety. They are kind of like a graduating class with this year's brood being the class of 2004. The next time they come out I will be retired.

So be prepared. You won't know they're around until they let you know they're around. Their chirping sounds will soon fill the air as they begin their mating rituals. Then you'll know they've arrived. But at least you have been warned as to the year and the time of the year. There is an event that will come without warning.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10 When you hear the cicadas this Spring, listen to their calls with a new wisdom. For as suddenly as they come and are gone, so will Jesus one day return for the church.