Dear Reader:
I have always been intrigued by this one verse of scripture:
Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
Ever since first hearing that line from the Bible…my imagination has taken over the scene in my mind. I have often been troubled by the thought that God created a world of nature in which animals are killed and eaten by other animals, survival of the fittest, the food chain, etc. When I have asked about it as a puzzled child….adults would mumble…”It’s the life cycle..it’s just the way it is.” That answer never satisfied me then…or now.
With cable comes animal shows and my favorites are the strange relationships bonded between two very different animals….who don’t want to eat each other…just be friends….like with:
Despite the extreme difference in size, Bubbles the elephant and Bella the black lab have become great friends. Bubbles was brought to a safari reserve in the U.S. after she was rescued from ivory poachers in Africa, while Bella was left there by a contractor for the park. The two are great to see together, especially when Bella uses Bubbles as a diving board!
Bea, the giraffe, and Wilma, the ostrich, have become great friends during their time together at Busch Gardens in the U.S. The two share a huge 65-acre enclosure, so they aren’t forced to spend time together – they do so willingly.
Tinni the dog and Sniffer the wild fox have been the best of friends since they met in the forests of Norway. Torgeir Berge, Tinni’s owner, does what he can to keep up and photograph the pair as they play in the woods
After being saved from the pot due to a foot injury, Mable found a new wonder when she was moved into her owners’ home – puppies! For some reason, the year-old hen has taken to roosting on the puppies and keeping them warm while their mother prefers the yard. Go figure!
You get the idea…I can look at pictures like this forever…love does conquer all…even animal instinct.
“And a little child shall lead them?”… Several years ago India started a series of motivational films at some of their universities to show how one person, even a little child, can make a difference in everyday life in a crowded place like India.
I hope the two minute video clicks on and plays for you because it truly moved me. * If for any reason it doesn’t…google Lead India: The Tree (inspirational 2 min. video)
Synopsis:
A tree has fallen in a crowded downtown neighborhood blocking all traffic, cars, buses, etc. Everyone looks annoyed but not enough to do anything about it…at first. You see two policemen representing government doing absolutely nothing..a priest blessing the tree and walking on…finally a handful of men do try to shove it…but only until a downpour erupts… sending them running back to their safe, dry vehicles.
Except for one little boy…quietly watching from a school bus…who, despite the rain…walks over and starts to try to push the huge tree out of the way all by himself. Suddenly he has everyone’s attention…especially when some other children join him. Shamed…a large crowd emerges now…there is excitement in the air as they form a support group to move the obstacle out of the way.
Amid cheers, camraderie, high fives…the people, in unity, find strength to solve their own neighborhood problems without help…as they all becomes leaders in their community.
*(Examine the messages in this film. They are not pretty. How do the people of that neighborhood respond to the large fallen tree blocking the road?)
- The religious authority blesses the obstacle, but provides no leadership in removing it.
- The government has no presence, except for two corrupt-looking police — who look on passively.
- The crowd mills around aimlessly, ineffectually, leaderless.
- A little boy steps forward — the epitome of a non-threatening person, whose spontaneous example inspires the crowd.
All because “a little child leads them.”
“The Tree”
So until tomorrow….Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. William James
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
If it doesn’t feel like Autumn…create it in your air-conditioned home.
Happy Birthday John! You always slip in on the last day of September. What an asset you are to the family and I thank God every day for the day you and Mandy met…and the day you married. A blessing indeed!
A very strange potential natural disaster is heading straight towards Dingle, Ireland…called Hurricane Lorenzo. It is rare for a hurricane to hit Europe because of all the distance needed to cover in the ocean…especially a category 5…monster of a storm in the Atlantic.
I am praying it bogs down and stays out in the ocean and/or switches direction from the British Isles, Ireland, and especially Dingle as cited now….if it stays the course..it will make landfall Thursday evening. Prayers for everyone in the potential path.
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
I do love the animal stories. Maybe one reason I stay on face book. They have a lot of lessons we as humans still need to learn.
The storm does look to be a history making one. Prayers for those in the path.
So true…animals, like children, are our best mentors and role-models when we take the time to observe their behaviors in different situations…we find the commonality of love and friendship in the Tree of Life…no matter…on what branch each life form resides.
Today’s blog is especially good! Every day they’re good but today, especially good! Thank you! May it be your best day😊. God bless you🙏🏻
Thank you Marcia…when I come across inspiring stories in whatever media they exist…they touch my heart and their story needs to be seen and re-told.
Animals are amazing with their innate sense and sometimes they have more unconditional love to give than humans…