I am wild about nature, so I was thrilled to visit the best zoo in the world last week while on vacation in Singapore. Plus, last month, while in Japan, I visited the largest and best aquarium in the world. Of course, I find spiritual lessons in everything, so here we go:
Let’s start with the obvious – which, unless it’s right in front of our faces, we sometimes forget to appreciate – God is so creative! I mean, he really has a sense of humor! He has taken every combination of body parts and varied the size, shape, and color to make the most fascinating animals. This adorable tarsier is small enough to sit in my hand, but his fingers and eyes were almost the same size as mine!
Now, it wasn’t just for silly’s sake that He did all this. We find that each animal is specifically adapted to its environment. I won’t go into all the scientific details now, just trust me on this – there is a reason that we each look the way we do.
The sad part comes when we are out of our natural environment. Take this whale shark for example. He has pretty nice digs there in Osaka, but if he has ever been in the open water, he probably pines for it. Nevertheless, he is now the main attraction at this aquarium, and gazillions of people have visited him. I could have happily gazed into his tank for hours. Maybe YOU are not where you want to be, but rest assured that other people appreciate the fact that you are there, and they are learning from and being blessed by you.
The other sad situation is for those of us who have never known our intended home or all that we are capable of doing. Take this cheetah for example. He is gorgeous! But he is not living up to his potential. Cheetahs are meant to live in the grasslands where they can chase after their prey at remarkable speed. Their slender bodies come equipped with a flexible spine, and their claws are specifically designed to grip the ground and propel them forward. This guy had a decent enclosure at the zoo, but not enough space to run. Not having not grown up in Africa and not having seen the Discovery Channel, he probably doesn’t even realize that he is the fastest animal on earth, although I’d bet he suspects that he was destined for something better.
* That reminds me of the duck who wore himself out waddling because he didn’t realize that his wings enabled him to fly. Unfortunate.
YOU were designed for a special purpose and given unique qualities that make you capable of doing amazing things.
Now, sometimes our traits seem weird to other people. And sometimes we just plain misuse them. Have you ever heard anyone sing, “You look like a monkey, and you act like one too!” I hope they weren’t directing their words at you. Yeah, this crazy-looking proboscis monkey does kind of remind me of my grandpa, but … even if you believe the band was singing about you when they claimed to be “Born to be Wi-i-i-ild!”, don’t act like a monkey! That would be to abuse your calling and disappoint your Creator. You and I are MORE than just mammals. We are spiritual beings. God wants us to honor him with our lives.
But, keep in mind that he has also blessed us with a wild imagination, and we should use that too!
