Out Together, Leaf to Leaf

 

(Photo by Laitche)

The healing power of touch is a well-known phenomenon among humans.  An oft-repeated line from the Neil Diamond song “Sweet Caroline” is “touching you, touching me”- words passionately echoed by fans the world over.

Animals are also known to be touched by touch. Think about it: What could be more cozy than a curled-up clowder of kittens?

But what about plants?  Do they reach out to their verdant brethren?  According to recent evidence, the answer is a resounding yes!  And not just via their roots...  ScienceNews reports that plants can “pass electrical signals to each other through their leaves, forming a network connected by touch.”

So do your green buds a favor and sow them in groups.  As they say in lettuce circles: Two heads are better than one.

Resources

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/plants-touching-stress-resilient

Coffee with Scott and Jesus

 

(Fair Use)

Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip “Dilbert,” theorized that corporate managers often rise to a level of incompetence.  Toward the end of his life, Adams began theorizing about another Creator, namely Christ.  

Taking a cue from Pascal, Adams wagered on the risk-benefit aspects of eternal salvation.  He figured that converting to Christianity wouldn’t much risk what was left of his worldly life and might just be a permanent passport into Heaven.  This intellectual stance has been hugely criticized by those who view faith from a profoundly soulful perspective.

And yet, although we know what Adams said aloud, we don’t really know what silently occurred within realms beyond mind and matter.  Perhaps this was just the beginning of Scott's truly holistic conversion. We lack the whole story and therefore cannot rightfully judge its conclusion.

Resources

https://thecollision.org/scott-adams-and-a-misunderstood-wager-on-the-lordship-of-christ/

Private Is as Private Does

(by Водник)

Knews headlines that scream “Barron Trump’s Private Call Revealed,” had better study up on the definition of “Private.”  So-called “TikTok Pastor” Stuart Knechtle, who allegedly revealed details from a 12:30 am conversation that he had with Barron, had better do the same.

Those who call themselves “Pastor” generally uphold conditions of strict privacy when having faith-based conversations with seekers.  They don’t blurt out statements such as “I thought I was hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink when it came to all the evidence for God and Christianity” during public interviews. And “hitting” Barron or anyone else with a barrage of information is not necessarily enlightening…

Knechtle went on to announce that Barron seemed “very close to putting his faith in Christ,” an assessment that only God seems truly qualified to make.

Resources

https://knewz.com/barron-trump-private-call-revealed/

 

'David' Deer

David and Goliath
{Osmar Schindler, 1888)

The young King David remains dear to many for his bravery in confronting gigantic Goliath. We tend to admire those who seem miniscule while tackling formidable opponents.

The animal kingdom sometimes reflects such contrasts.  A tiny muntjac deer shares a Polish zoo enclosure with an enormous rhinoceros. They normally get along just fine as they munch hay together from the very same bale.

Yet everyone has an off day sooner or later… Deer males are no exception, especially while in heat.  It was then that the miniscule muntjac began charging at his rhino roommate. 

This story might have had an abrupt ending were it not for the rhino’s surprising response.  Instead of reacting in kind, ‘Goliath’ simply moved away time and again.  The aggression then passed, and peace in the zoo valley resumed.

Makes a body wonder whether future Davids could pack up their slingshots as future Goliaths learn to back up and back off…

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/01/12/poland-Wroclaw-Zoo-muntjac-deer-rhino/4111768245115// 

Dancing: Ups, Downs and All-Arounds

Whirling Dervishes
(Public Domain)

Dancing has played a major role in numerous religious gatherings.  Sufis have long practiced physically whirling forms of meditation in order to better connect with  Allah.  This practice was initiated in the 13^th century by the well-known mystic and poet, Mevlana Rumi.

Although also called “dancing,” the erratic movements of Donald Trump’s appendages seem more like neurological quirks than like sacred rituals.  His own wife hinted that such antics belong more in the closet than on the presidential stage.

Even humanoid robots have been criticized for prioritizing jiggling over tasks at hand.  As a team of “tin men” shimmied their way through a Consumer Electronics Show, bystanders “were impatient for them to become more useful, not just a promise of things to come.”

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/tech/ai/meta-ai/articles/dancing-isnt-enough-industry-pushes-072304136.html    

Come and Get Me

Fire Ants
(Public Domain)

Self-sacrifice for the good of others has long been associated with certain religious doctrines.  People who exemplify such teachings are often heralded as the best that humanity has to offer.

Yet these heroes may be no match for the average ant.  Consider this: When a young ant catches an infection that could threaten the rest of the colony, it emits a chemical signal that essentially says, “Come and get me!”

Worker ants then come and do exactly that.  They proceed to “bite holes in the pupae and inject poison,” thus killing the ailing ant and disinfecting the nest.  Erika Dawson of Austria’s Institute of Science and Technology explained “that the sick pupae only produce the smell when worker ants are nearby, proving it is a deliberate signal for destruction.”  She therefore called this “an altruistic act.”

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/articles/come-kill-sick-ants-invite-160502687.html

Marital Borders: Open or Closed?

(Public Domain)

Borders are a fact of life, yet they need not be completely open or tightly shut.  The sweet spot is generally somewhere  in between.  Where to draw that line is a question to be wrestled with: often politically, and sometimes personally.

A female shopper recently asked another woman’s husband to assist her in reaching for an item on the upper shelf.  He then turned to his wife, eyeing her for a nod of approval.  What followed was an online wifely rant regarding the so-called nerve of that female shopper.

This rant led to comments ranging from approval of such marital boundaries to criticism of the wife’s alleged insecurity. Many responses were based upon assumed inside knowledge about their marital history and commitments.

It is unknown whether said husband and wife had prior agreements regarding third parties, perhaps based upon former incidents.  Although reaching for an item seems like a one-time deal, long journeys sometimes begin with a first impromptu step.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/georgia-woman-asks-man-to-reach-item-on-top-shelf-at-kroger-then-his-wife-intervenes-and-just-like-that-she-becomes-the-kroger-lady/