Just Thinking…
My youngest was this week required to create a travel brochure on the Cook Islands for homework – on the account of it being Cook Island language week (I know … I hadn’t realised that either!). In the process of his research into the various attractions on offer in the Cooks, he came across something amazing … unexpected … and deeply surprising. In fact, it amazed the entire family. Can I introduce you to my son’s new, most "favouritist" animal in the whole world? It is the Coconut Crab – and they can grow simply enormous! Check out this stunning picture below:
It reminded me of the platypus. When explorers first went to Australia, they encountered an animal that defied all known laws of taxonomy. They discovered a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal, having a broad, flat tail, webbed feet and a snout resembling a duck’s bill. They named this animal the platypus. Upon returning to their native land, they related their finding to the world. The people regarded their report as a hoax since no such animal with the above characteristics could possibly exist. Even though there was reputable eyewitness testimony, it was rejected because of their world-view. They went back a second time to Australia, and returned with the hide of a dead platypus. The people accused them of rigging a hoax again.
The old saying goes, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." This is true ... much of the time ... but not always. The news of a Creator God who loves us ... who moved heaven and earth to remove our self-inflicted barriers to relating with him ... who longs to restore us to dignity and mana, to become truly human in a way which we have never been ... this all sounds too good to be true. But it's not. If that's not 'good news', I don't know what is! So go ahead ... show your neighbour the photo of the coconut crab ... and then tell them about something even more amazing!
