On Saturday morning I noticed … something on my front step that made me bend down to investigate.
What greeted my eye was something I can only describe as grossly beautiful.
The largest moth I had ever seen, or imagined, just inches from my nose.
I simply could not pull my eyes from it. It’s colours and texture soft and appealing. It’s body round and hair-covered, slightly reminiscent of a member of the creepy arachnida class (think spider … unless that gives you nightmares). It’s legs, also hair-covered, with distinctive leg parts (joints). It’s protruding antennae intricate and detailed.
Though a creepy vibe was definitely present, I couldn’t help by reach out and gently touch its furry body, it’s silky wings, it’s chubby legs.
It was then that it seemed (my perspective) to relax, and stretched out it’s wings. It was huge! Five to six inches from tip to tip of it’s delicate, yet powerful wings. I had felt the strength of the wings against my finger as it open up. The tuft of hair on it’s back was at least a quarter of an inch in length. Reminding me of baby hair on an infant.
After posting an image on Instagram, a friend asked about any other spots on the lower wings, currently hidden under the top.
So, I went back and petted it again, only to be gifted with a view of vibrant and intricately-created eye spots, reminiscent of those of an owl.
When I reported my finding to my friend, she informed me that what had come to visit was a # moth, a giant silk moth, common to North America. She also let me know that I should be thankful, for their life span is short, just days.
By this point I thought it probably needed it’s space, for I knew that, though I was pretty certain that it viewed me as a friend, I knew that it’s nature would see me as foe.
Numerous times throughout the day I would pop back out to see it, still resting on my step. Before going to bed that night, I checked, once again, to see it still on my step.
When I awoke the next morning, it was gone.
I looked all around my step, hoping to see it, safely protected in a tree. It was nowhere to be seen. My heart actually sank, as I wondered what it’s predators might be, and hoped that it had not become part of the food chain.
Later that day, my daughter sent me a photo (below). Our giant moth had not flown away, or became food for another creature, it simply found a new perch.
Each day after that there will small, but distinguishable changes. The ‘hair’ on the top started to look lifeless, it’s wings seemed to look increasingly dried up and it’s responses became slowed when I would touch it.
The following Thursday morning, I peered up to the light to see if it was still there, and, indeed, it was, but when I reached up there was no movement, no fluttering of wings, no life.
Just days after it’s emergence from it’s cocoon, it had died. It’s lifespan short because it died of starvation.
You see, though, as a caterpillar it can eat up to 86,000 times it’s weight in food, this giant moth was not created with a mouth structure able to eat at all. So, once it emerges from it’s cocoon, it simply mates, lays the eggs and dies days later.
So, whats the point of that? Talk about a purposeless life! Why bother living at all?
Driving to work, pondering those questions asked of my moth visitor, the lyrics of a song interrupted my thoughts:
“God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain
No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice
And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature so will I …
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love …
That short-lived moth, had purpose. If it was only to be a visual reminder of the works of art that God created, it is enough. If it was only to praise it’s creator by living, by taking each ordained breath, than so will I.
itsawonderfilledlife 