What's good about it?

Heading for a civilized bike ride around the lake, Julie and I spotted trails through the brushy forest and opted to ride there instead. It was great fun, but that night I realized that my failure to learn a third grade science lesson had once again caught up with me. I never can recognize poison ivy.

I am not the only one with the problem, as experts offer to identify the plants through submitted photos on the web. I was glad to see that they also suggest innumerable remedies for the rash--everything from blow dryers and pine tar to steroid injections. But it was one of the FAQ's that I found especially interesting: "What's good about poison ivy?"

My answer, if any, would be "not much." But the website observed that birds and animals can use it for food and in some places it holds the soil against erosion. Still, "we probably don't know enough about it" to understand its true value for the environment and for humans.

Evidently the writer did not believe in the randomness of naturalistic evolution, implying that there must be some purpose to this pernicious plant. But in spite of the rash on my legs I have to say: the purpose implied is far too small. Why must animals and plants have value for us? Why must they perform some function? They have been created not for us, but for the glory of God. In more technical language, Karl Barth wrote, "What is proclaimed in this teleology of creation is not the glory of humans but the glory of the God who has turned to them in His mercy."

So how does poison ivy glorify God? I have some ideas, but they would be mere guesses, and this is probably not the best time to ask me. What I do know is this: "All things [even things I do not especially like] have been created through Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16).

Bob