Survival of the Fittest

I had an experience this morning that has haunted my mind since I witnessed it. For those of you, who like me are Bambi lovers, this story may scar you slightly. You have been warned!

While leaving my gym this morning I witnessed a horrible gang beating take place. I will ease your minds and let you know that this crime was a crime between birds and not people. There was one little bird that was injured and unable to fly. As a result, there were 6-10 other larger birds attacking the smaller one, each one trying to take the prize. My heart told me to intervene and save this little bird, but I soon realized that the injuries incurred were too severe for a saving to have taken place. Just as one bird thought he had won, another larger bird would take the little bird away. This sequence of larger birds taking from the smaller ones was repeated several times until the seagull stepped in to finish the battle.

It was Herbert Spencer, a biologist during the time of Darwin, who coined the phrase "survival of the fittest". This differs slightly from the theory of Natural Selection in that only the conquering or nt species will continue to exist, not just the one capable of reproducing itself. Having witnessed an act as I did this morning, Spencer would appear to be correct. That it is a dog-eat-dog world and that the one that carries the bigger stick wins. The only problem I have with that is the existence of humanity. Why is it that having witnessed this event I felt sorrow and discomfort? Some would say it is because I have been pre-conditioned to this sentiment and, had I been raised in another culture or time, it would not have bothered me. I believe that the only way in which we can walk past someone in need without lending help is if we have pre-conditioned ourselves to do so. So have I been pre-conditioned? Yes, but where I will disagree is with whom I have been pre-conditioned by.

In short, we need to ask the question why we do not work in the same manner as animals. Why is it that if we see someone fall, it should, and more often is our natural response to lend a hand rather than strike the final blow. I propose to you that it is because of whose image we have been created in. A law has been written on the hearts of all humanity, a law that is a representation of the God who created us. If we remove this law, as many have attempted to do, then we are reduced to acting in very much the same manner as birds, driven by instinct rather than reason. Our ability to reason and to love is precisely what separates us from the rest of creation and gives us the unique title of “image bearers” of the God of the universe.