Creatures Great and Small

As a Pastor of two small rural churches that are located 36 miles apart, I spend a lot of time on the road.  This evening I had to travel to the one that is 36 miles away for meetings that were being held.  I always wonder just exactly what I will see on my journey.  Fortunately I have never hit anything, but I have had a few close calls.  One morning I topped a hill to discover a calf in the middle of my lane.  I stopped and honked to move him off the road and he didn't seem to want to go anywhere, so I got out of the car and chased him into the ditch so hopefully no one else would hit him either.  A few weeks ago I had a fox cross the road in front of me, that was a surprise and a delight.  Another time I saw an eagle soaring overhead.  I've had hawks and owls swoop down in front of me to capture the little field mice that like to cross the road.  I've seen a few snakes and lots of turtles, turkeys, grouse and deer.  I of course see cows and horses because I live in ranch country, but this evenings sighting surprised me a little, I came over a hill and there on the edge of the highway stood a badger.  I haven't seen a badger in years, and so I had to slow down to make sure that's what I was really seeing.  He flattened out and scurried off the road when I came close.  In an attempt to curb my curiosity about the animals, I did a little research online and discovered that badgers are a part of the weasel family and that there are nine species of badger.  Who knew?  I sure didn't!  But now I do and it was fun taking time to discover more information about one of God's smaller creatures.  God is so creative and I thank Him for his beautiful creation every day.