All Creation Sings

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. – Psalm 24:1 (NRSV) 

The other day I learned that houseflies hum in the key of F.  

These pesky little creatures—the ones that spend the summer dive-bombing my head, congregating on my counters, and ruining my coleslaw—are all the while making music.  

And they’re not the only melodious mites.  

Mosquitoes whine in frequencies between G and D.  

Bumblebees, befittingly, buzz Bs.  

Crickets chirp high Cs.  

Grasshoppers tweet around the pitch of E.  

Ants and spiders don’t sing, but they do make a little percussive clicking sound, kind of like a guiro.  

Altogether, bugs form a tiny, mighty, unlikely orchestra. Isn’t it just like God to make a bug band?  

Creation is wonderous and complex. Even creatures that annoy me, even the ones that bite me, are miraculous in their own way.  

Sometimes I get stuck thinking I know what is good and what is bad. And then occasionally I feel authorized to squash what I think is bad. I wonder how many melodies I’ve missed while trying to compose a version of creation that’s easy on my own ears.   

Prayer
Holy One, may your humming houseflies humble me. Let my songs of praise be in harmony with all living things. Amen.

About the Author
Rev. Kate Kennedy is a New Hampshire-based UCC pastor pursuing a career in family therapy.