"Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars. Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now, think. What delight God gives to humankind with all these things, All nature is at the disposal of humankind."

Hildegard of Bingen

Throughout my schedule, Science has become one of my favorite subjects to teach. I admit that I have been metamorphosed (Kafka reference intended). No, I have not grown to be hard shelled, many legged, or developed ringed body parts. But when I first agreed to teach the fourth grade Insects course, I feared that there was no way I could get excited about the subject or even tolerate dwelling on bugs for months. I have come a long way from being a woman who would scream when noticing a creepy crawly or flick a beetle from my arm as if it could sting me in an instant. I am now a woman who runs to investigate the newest weird discovery on campus. I have been asked many times, “Mrs. Robleto, what is that insect?” This has inspired me to have a deeper motivation to research and learn new insect trivia. I find God’s creative artistry in the minute detail of the insect world and get better each year at enjoying it. Dwelling on God’s fine attention to all details in insects has given me a peek into His love.

An interesting aspect of the placement of the study of insects at our school is that I get to follow the Astronomy course enormously enjoyed by third graders. Mr. Nicol and I have spoken for a couple of years about the transition our students make from focusing on the glorious handiwork of God in outer space to zooming in on the billions of tiny beings that share our planet with us. There seems to be some ripe connection between the two ends of God’s creation that we as teachers can draw or lead our students to appreciate. I imagine the minds of our third-grade students stretching out to the edge of the universe looking for the artistic hand of the Creator. Then in fourth grade, they slowly begin to focus on the intricate design of insects and discover God’s artistry anew! Their enthusiasm is contagious. I find new ways each year to foster insect appreciation and come alongside the students as they make this journey to love the smaller things.

I am thankful that I have changed and grown to be more delighted by insects. In the past, it would be unthinkable that I would buy praying mantis oothecas (egg cases) in hopes of hatching garden friends and specimens for my class to study. I could not imagine myself purchasing Blue Death Feigning Beetles and a Ghost Mantid as class pets! But here I am, transformed, or metamorphosed. I bought both types of critters as birthday gifts for myself! For proof, stop by my classroom to meet my newest sidekick, “Ma Petite.” She is a praying mantis that looks just like a leaf who feels like a fairy when she walks on my hand. Her camouflage involves rocking back and forth like a leaf in the wind. She is mesmerizing. My whole class seems to enjoy doing work for her. We go out to catch flies, and then we cheer her on as she hunts. We carry her around the playground enjoying many questions that arise from students and teachers.

"All of creation is a symphony of the Holy Spirit which is joy and jubilation."

Hildegard of Bingen, Meditations

Noticing God’s artistry from the cosmos to the design of tiny insects convinces me of His love for us and informs my Advent reflection this year. After feeling delight over an insect so small, I can only imagine how God feels about each one of us. No one is insignificant to God. I am sure that God, as he fills the entire cosmos, focuses down and in to marvel at our beings... the ones he stitched. He invites us, those He craves to have in heaven, to see Him in all.

Through the Advent and Christmas seasons, we remember he came to us as a small, vulnerable baby. God’s grandeur is not too hefty to fill small things perfectly. I imagine the Theotokos cuddling God, just as God is cuddling us at the same time. He gifts us with His love and His saving. He woos us close to Him by taking on the fleshy existence we all know. In Advent, we are reminded that He will come again. I allow my heart to be warmed by the smallness of the Christ Child, so that I can be ready for the bigness of His next coming. It is like focusing on insects, then the universe.

"Love abounds in all things, excels from the depths to beyond the stars, is lovingly disposed to all things."

Hildegard of Bingen, Caritas Abundat