You wake up in the morning, golden streams of warm sunshine bathing your face and arms. Stumbling out of bed, you stagger over to the window, rubbing your bleary eyes. The green grass and trees, and red and blue flowers fill your senses with a delicious feeling of awe at God's creation.
Then your focus swings closer; to your window. Rivers of slimy mucus run all over the outside -- clear evidence that slugs were having a party while you slept peacefully. Slugs are such disgusting creatures, you grimace, how could the same God who made the flowers and sky have made such slimy, repulsive little boogers like slugs?
I did a little research into slugs (AKA gastropod mollusk) today. They're interesting. Did you ever wonder how they even climb up windows? I don't know if you've ever tried climbing a window (I know I have!), it's really not as easy as you'd think. There's not much to grab on to. But these slugs go up, up, up, no problem (Though, I wish it were harder for them, especially when I'm delegated to wash the window).
Slugs have a mucus excretor (called a "Pedal gland") near their head which carpets their path with a thick, smooth trail for them to slide along. The mucus has fibers in it which help it stick to vertical surfaces. Rows of muscles on their feet -- or more accurately, foot. These muscles contract and relax at just the right times, making a wave effect that pulls the slug along.
Also the slug's reproductive system is quite... erm... queer. Slugs don't have different genders. All act the same, and have the same bodily parts. So often times when you see them just circling each other doing, and it looks like they're eating each other's tail, well, that's not what they're doing. Need I say more?
I could probably go on about interesting facts about slugs, but I don't want to make you sick and avoid my future posts. My whole point is that slugs really are unique animals specially and uniquely designed by God, for his enjoyment (No, not culinary, thank you). If you can get past the gaggingly hideous outside, you'll see the creativity and beauty of God's workmanship even in slugs. I just wanted to share that, as the Psalm says, "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders." (Psalm 9:1)
So next time you see a slug, don't just grab your salt-shaker and watch the poor thing melt -- praise God.
Now please excuse me while I go remove the slimy beasty on my carpet.
