At our church drama group’s meeting, friend Cassie did a little devotional on the this video.
I liked it so much, I’m stealing it.
So first, watch the video – Battle at Kruger.
Spoiler alert for the squeamish: it ends well. Really, it does. Trust me.
Okay, so now that you’ve watched the video – oh, wait some of you haven’t. That’s okay, I’ll wait.
Dum dee dum dum, dum dee dum…
Okay, now then:
Cassie saw this video a bit back, and like me she tends to see metaphors all around us. Here’s some of the metaphors she saw in the video, as it applies to our spiritual and community lives.
1. The Lions: Reminded her of 1 Peter chapter five, verses 8: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2. The Flight: First instinct when the attack comes is to pick up and run all willy nilly – rather than use our gifts and strengths to stand together. This leaves the weakest among us most vulnerable – ala Baby buffalo.
3. The Crocodile: Seems like over kill, that croc attack, doesn’t it? But the truth is, it is when we are at our lowest, when we are suffering that the attacks compound on us. As the Irish say, “When it rains, it pours.”
4. The Cavalry: If you listen close, you will realize that it is the cries of Baby that bring the herd back. Lesson here: you (we!) are not alone – so when you are in need call out!
5. The Attack: A few of the leaders go up and start kicking some butt – or rather butting some cats. But it is the unity of the group, the impressive wall of support of the community that gives the leaders the ability to succeed. We’ve been given community to support each other in our need…
6. The Protection: Notice that once Baby gets away, the herd makes a fortress around her – the community makes a wall of protection around the weak.
7. “He chased him away”: Finish the battle – it isn’t just about getting the lions off of Baby, but getting the lions far away from Baby, so there won’t be another attack.
Cassie brought up the appropriate verse in Ecclesiastes 4:10: “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
And wrapped up with the full verses that she started with in 1 Peter:
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion king for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Just my thoughts,
Sean
I liked it so much, I’m stealing it.
So first, watch the video – Battle at Kruger.
Spoiler alert for the squeamish: it ends well. Really, it does. Trust me.
Okay, so now that you’ve watched the video – oh, wait some of you haven’t. That’s okay, I’ll wait.
Dum dee dum dum, dum dee dum…
Okay, now then:
Cassie saw this video a bit back, and like me she tends to see metaphors all around us. Here’s some of the metaphors she saw in the video, as it applies to our spiritual and community lives.
1. The Lions: Reminded her of 1 Peter chapter five, verses 8: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2. The Flight: First instinct when the attack comes is to pick up and run all willy nilly – rather than use our gifts and strengths to stand together. This leaves the weakest among us most vulnerable – ala Baby buffalo.
3. The Crocodile: Seems like over kill, that croc attack, doesn’t it? But the truth is, it is when we are at our lowest, when we are suffering that the attacks compound on us. As the Irish say, “When it rains, it pours.”
4. The Cavalry: If you listen close, you will realize that it is the cries of Baby that bring the herd back. Lesson here: you (we!) are not alone – so when you are in need call out!
5. The Attack: A few of the leaders go up and start kicking some butt – or rather butting some cats. But it is the unity of the group, the impressive wall of support of the community that gives the leaders the ability to succeed. We’ve been given community to support each other in our need…
6. The Protection: Notice that once Baby gets away, the herd makes a fortress around her – the community makes a wall of protection around the weak.
7. “He chased him away”: Finish the battle – it isn’t just about getting the lions off of Baby, but getting the lions far away from Baby, so there won’t be another attack.
Cassie brought up the appropriate verse in Ecclesiastes 4:10: “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
And wrapped up with the full verses that she started with in 1 Peter:
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion king for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Just my thoughts,
Sean
2 comments:
Wow. I needed that today, Sean, so thanks. Sadly, I don't know that there's a herd around here...
What makes that video even more amazing is that all the wildlife experts concur that they've never seen herds act like that. The flight reflex is so strong in herd animals. Which is fortunate for lions or they'd starve to death if their prey routinely stood up to them en masse.
I remember seeing a video once where a croc catches a baby monkey and tries to drag it into the river. The mommy monkey (maybe ten pds soaking wet) refused to let go of her baby - - even attacking the mammoth croc.
Mom won the battle and saved her baby when the croc figured there had to be an easier snack somewhere. I bet you can't watch that vid and not pump your fist in the air and yell a victory whoop for the monkies.
There was no community in that scenario, just one gutsy momma monkey. It proves what the great Kramer said on Seinfeld, "It's not the size of the opponent that matters, but the ferocity."
That is the rallying cry of underdogs everywhere.
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