This morning we were off to paddle a portion of the Moira River north of Belleville with precious cargo. Our daughter-in-law Rebekah made sure that our eighteen-month-old grandson, Nicholas, did not enthusiastically pitch himself into the murky water. We want Nicholas to gain an early appreciation of being out on the water and he did seem to enjoy himself.
It didn't occur to me immediately that we had an expert onboard. Rebekah is a freshwater ecologist and has just completed an aquatic study for McGill University. She explained some clam shells which were not as impressive to me as the blue herons and osprey and the school of gar swimming past, yet they are remarkable. They have developed a lure-like appendage which attracts certain fish. When they come close the clams squirt their young into the gills of the fish where they live until they are fully formed and release themselves. This is all the more amazing since clams are blind. How do they know what would attract the fish?
Rebekah is a scientist, yet she wondered aloud at the complexity of this evolutionary development and can appreciate why people are convinced that this is the work of a creative force, what we call God. I agree. I suppose I'll continue to make room for both and continue to be amazed by the variety of our wonderful planet.
Thoughts?
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