A trip to the zoo

Today was a beautiful day in Kansas--temperatures in the mid 70s, with a slight breeze. A perfect day to go to the Kansas City Zoo. It became an unexpected opportunity for meditative reflection.

BONGOS (http://tinyurl.com/4237q) – these docile, often solitary animals with striking striped backs, reminded me of the stripes Jesus suffered. "But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, ESV)

CHEETAH – This fast moving, but easily tiring animal reminded me that there is a kind of race to be won. Let us run to finish, and not grow weary. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7, NRSV)

A WARNING – There was a sign that read, “For Your Safety – always stay on the path.” "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, NRSV)

GORILLA – These fascinating gray animals are said by some to be our ancient evolutionary relatives. Whether that’s true or not, they reminded me of my obligation to care for our elderly (especially those in my family), and to carry our faith to the next generation. "And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8, NRSV)

HOTTENTOT TEAL – The smallest of the African ducks. According to the zoo sign, it is also one of the most widely preyed upon. Why are some of the smallest things also the most exploited? Yet the smallest things are still under God’s providence. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father…you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29, 31, NIV)

THE SWAYING BRIDGE – To get to the Heart of Africa exhibit, you had to cross a swaying bridge over a creek. A sign gave this advice: “walk calmly with a normal pace.” That’s the trick. When life goes bad, hurrying just makes it worse. You have to take it calmly, with a normal pace. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34, NRSV)

MEERKAT FAMILY– Though these meerkats are in captivity, I witnessed them reflect the same tight community sharing of responsibility that they exhibit in the wild. In our times of struggle, remember to stay in community. "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NRSV)

THE AVIARY – There were so many colorful birds in the aviary; but I soon realized that there were many more birds hidden in the trees, than what I could see in the open. So it is with the saints and angels that God sends our way to preserve us. “Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always.” (prayer from Compline).

RETURN FROM THE SWAYING BRIDGE – Coming back from the African exhibit, we had to travel the swaying bridge again. This time, some people were standing in the middle of it, and when people approached, they laughingly forced the bridge to rock violently back and forth. Whether intentially rude or merely thoughtless, this reminded me that even when we are trying to walk at our normal pace, people and circumstances beyond our control hinder our way and create anxiety. I discovered that there’s only one solution to this. We have to grab hold of whatever we can, and keep walking. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:36, NIV)

GIRAFFE – According to some scientists, the giraffe defies all explanation for how it evolved its long neck and special circulatory system. But whether by Intelligent Design or by Evolution, the important question isn’t the HOW of Creation … but WHY? "What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them?" (Psalm 8:5, NAB)

TERMITE HILL – This hill in the plains exhibit looked exactly like how I’ve always envisioned the Tower of Babel must have looked. How often do we babble endlessly, without saying anything? They said, “let’s build ourselves a tower that reaches Heaven. Let’s make ourselves famous…And GOD said, ‘we’ll go down and garble their speech so they won’t understand each other.’ That’s how it came to be called Babel, because there GOD turned their language into ‘babble.’ From there GOD scattered them all over the world.” (Genesis 11:7-9, MSG).

HIPPO / BEHEMOTH – An ancient symbol of Chaos, the Behemoth/Hippopatomus is a sign that God is in control of the seemingly uncontrollable and subdues the seemingly unsubduable. The one I visited was playing in the water while enthusiastically gnawing on a bright blue plastic barrel. “Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you;…It is the first of the great acts of God— only its Maker can approach… the mountains yield food for it where all the wild animals play." (Job 40:15-20, NRSV)