Thought for the Week

I AM WRITING this on the very wild and stormy island of Arran in the lovely village of Kildonan.

The weather has been dreadful and we are now awaiting the remnants of hurricane Ophelia to batter us.

Our holiday house is right on the beach and looks across to the islands of Pladda and Ailsa Craig.

The waves are huge and the sea is acting out its own exciting drama.

Seabirds are tossed about on the sea currents and the trees are almost bent backwards.

The barks of our collies disappear silently into the wind.

I have been reading the information in the cottage and have been fascinated by the evolutionary story of this lovely island.

Evidently just on the beach in front of us, footprints have been found of dinosaur activity around 240 million years ago.

This particular type of dinosaur was known as Isochirotheorium herculis, which translates as ‘hand beast’ simply because the rear footprints resemble a human hand. I was amazed when I saw the photographs as the prints are exactly like a human hand.

It is remarkable to think that life has been on this small island for more than 240 million years. What a small part we play in this huge drama of life and can we possibly contemplate the next 240 million years?

Personally I doubt very much if our planet will be around in another 240 million years.

However we are called to do what we can to protect this planet while we can.

We are called to be good stewards and to look after our world.

Eco-terrorism threatens this beautiful globe and unless we take action now, human beings will be but forgotten footprints in the sand.