evolution shouldn't be a bad word

Nature is like a spiderweb — every thread connected to something larger. It functions beautifully on its own, yet to me, its very complexity has always pointed to something greater: God.

A Morning Outside

In the months leading up to finals, I spent countless hours glued to my tablet, poring over past exams. My eyes paid the price. One morning, they ached so badly that I decided to give them (and myself) a break. Riley and I stepped outside.

The patio was dustier than I remembered, and in our absence, the flower pots had become home to dozens of spiderwebs. The early sunlight struck the silky threads, making them glisten like glass. Reflections of red and white flowers made the webs look almost ethereal.

Riley, usually soft-spoken, broke the silence.

"You know, Ted, there are all these spiderwebs, but no spiders."

I frowned. “You’re actually right.”

At first, I was amused by her observation. But as the quiet stretched between us again, I found it oddly sad. Those delicate webs were the only proof that, at some point, at least one spider had occupied that space. And yet, a single sweep of a feather duster could erase any trace of its existence.

I turned my gaze to the garden. Birds flitted across the grass, foraging for insects. Chicks sat high in the jacarandas, waiting impatiently for breakfast. The morning light bathed everything in gold — the plump birds, the wriggling worms, the bending branches. It was a world in motion, every small life playing its part. A perfect, interwoven system. Too perfect to be accidental.

The Crossroads of Faith, Science, and Evolution

My creationist classmates studied ecology, but struggled with evolution. My biology teacher made it clear that studying evolution wasn’t up for debate. Some students questioned how she could reconcile her faith with accepting evolution. She confessed she was a “bad Catholic” but offered two insights that have stayed with me:

First, evolution is a scientific theory, not a religion — it’s something you learn, not something you "believe" in.

Second, while the theory of evolution explains how complex life may have developed over time, it doesn’t explain the origin of life itself.

Her words shifted my perspective. Instead of challenging my faith, studying evolution strengthened it. I found myself marveling at the idea that a single cell could adapt, change, and persist across millennia, ensuring the continuity of life on Earth. To me, that ability isn’t random — it’s proof of intelligent design.

Finding Balance

Some see faith and science as opposing forces, but I see them as two sides of the same coin. Science explains how the world works; faith gives me the why. And when I look at the intricate beauty of nature — at the spiderwebs, the birds, the golden morning light — I see no conflict.