Greenford is a community of about 50,000 in West London (in the borough of Ealy). You won’t be surprised when I tell you it rains there quite a bit or that they’ve had some issues with flooding—so much so that they were going to spend a significant sum building a reservoir and levy. Until something happened that caused them to cancel those plans.
What happened was, as Lauren Frayer noted, a family of five moved to the area. They had the background, experience, and skillset needed to address Greenford’s water issues. Yet curiously, no one in this family had a degree in civil engineering, water management, or urban planning. Actually, no one in this family even had a degree because they were . . .
Beavers!
They were released into a lagoon that is part of a green space known as Paradise Fields. They started doing beaver things—buildings dams and rerouting the water. In very little time, Paradise Fields was transformed into a wetland capable of absorbing a greater amount of water which then trickles (rather than flooding) out to the surrounding areas. This allowed them to scrap their plans for a reservoir and levee.
The beavers also sent ripples through the ecosystem as plants and animals previously not sustainable found a welcoming environment. In short, the beavers effectively, efficiently, and naturally made Greenford a better place. Not bad for an animal that four hundred years ago was hunted to extinction in the area.
“Am I living the life God put me on this earth to live?” That’s not a bad question to periodically ask ourselves—especially if the water is rising!
If you step back from the story, what really happened? The beavers simply did what God had put them on this earth to do and it brought blessings to the community. And what’s true for beavers is true for humans. We function best and bless the world around us when we do what we were made to do. What we were created to do is image God. We do this by using the gifts He has given us to bless others. Since this is what our Father does with HIs limitless abilities, when we do this we are imaging Him.
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 