"Crabby" in St Lucia

Greetings!

Isn't this an interesting little fellow? How do you like those eyes? Aren't they something else! This little crab we found (and managed to catch) on the beach at St Lucia, located a little south-west of Swaziland on the coast of South Africa, right on the Indian Ocean. We were enjoying a few days holiday away from Johannesburg.

These crabs come out of the ocean and dig holes in the sand into which they scamper at speed anytime they feel like it, and especially when "humanoids" come upon them! They move sideways only, left or right, and extremely fast. We managed to get a hold of this guy and by holding his pincher, we were able to get a good look at him. How do you like the way those eyes stick straight up? When you turn the crab upside down, the eyes automatically retract into the grooves you see just below them. Just as fast as you rock him back and forth, those eyes go in and out of those grooves like a machine!

For as fragile as they are in appearance, they must have tremendous strength. No matter how fast you try and dig them out of their holes, you can't catch them. This is a lean 'n mean diggin' machine like you've never seen!

To watch them race around on the surface of the beach sand, one gets the distinct impression that they are filled with joy, delighting in their environment with passion, strength and determination. They are really fun to watch.

This reminds one of Psalm. 28:7 where David says, "The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

When danger is near, these crabs are in their holes in the sand, their "shield from every danger." Otherwise, they're out on the beach moving at speed with lightness of foot as they "burst out in songs of thanksgiving"! At least it seems that way!

We pray this will be our own testimony -- those whose "shield from danger" is God himself, and also the one about whom we cannot contain but "burst forth in song" of his greatness, faithfulness, generosity, and goodness in countless ways.

To the ends of the earth is our aim;
Let us bear to the lost Jesus name;
Tell the nations His story;
Fill the earth with His glory;
To the ends of the earth is our aim!