In referring to animals, I am thinking in broad brush terms to also include birds, insects etc. There are a myriad of life forms that are different from humans. It has always amazed me how like and unlike humans they are. Many of them seem to express similar, if not the same, emotions as humans. They all have their own form of communication, and many can express or demonstrate humor.
I was reading about Margaret, a newborn giraffe at the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom. She was the smallest giraffe ever born there, only five feet tall. There were pictures of her, on the computer, sucking milk from a baby bottle. Margaret had the most beautiful eyes, and they were unusually large for the size of her face. They reminded me of that song “Beautiful Brown Eyes.” The caption for one of the pictures of Margaret was, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Several animal stories have found their way into my life recently, stories from various magazines in waiting rooms, for example, since I have spent more time than usual in doctors’ offices lately. That, too, may make me feel a little more tender than usual. I believe we feel more vulnerable when we have health problems, and a vulnerable person is sometimes more tender and even tearful. Animals have always been special in my life ever since I brought my first stray dog home as a young boy. My wife and children will tell you that I am a tender-hearted one whether vulnerable or not. It can be manifest each time any life form that I can see is struggling for its life. Any event that has a loving and tender story will bring a tear. Back to the animal stories that I referred to above.
The next story was shown on a video which captured a very touching exchange between two small turtles. One of them had been turned over on its back and was shown with its legs flailing in the air unable to right itself. It was laying upside down on what appeared to be a path. Then another turtle with the same markings and color came along the path. This one stopped and appeared to be sizing up the situation and then went around to side of the turtle away from the path and started pushing up on its shell. As it pushed, it got itself under the other’s shell and kept pushing and wedging itself under the turtle until it had pushed the turtle over onto its feet ending up right on the path. At that point, they both started down the path together. This demonstrated to me that not only are these apparently dumb animals not so dumb, but they even have some engineering savvy or logic. They obviously have compassion, affection and a willingness to risk their own life for their mates.
Yes, there are some animals that pose a threat to us and to our children, and we have a tendency to dislike them and warn our children to keep away from them. Yet we see that some humans have befriended even these dangerous animals, and they appear to have deep affection for each other.
We are all creatures designed and created by God for a purpose, and we know that one day the child shall lie down with the lion, etc. The above stories have made me much more sympathetic and even amazed at our fellow creatures and what they are capable of. I will never again see any of them as dumb and unaffectionate creatures but more like ourselves with a love for their mates and offspring and a fierce willingness to even die to protect them.
Life in nature comes in all colors, strength and in many forms. When we learn to honor the differences and appreciate the mix, we’re in harmony with nature.