Thank you Mountain Press, for the front page photo of Dema the tiger and Nia the baby orangutan. In the photo, they are almost nose-to-nose with peaceful intent, peering into one another’s eyes. The caption notes that they are inseparable playmates and this behavior would not happen in the wild.
The tiger would be a predator of the orangutan and the orangutan would be fearful of the tiger. However, they both suffered abandonment and in their emotional need are finding comfort and joy in a new paradigm.
Do you suppose there is a deeper message here for humans? What human being has not suffered abandonment or rejection directly from someone or from past generations in the course of living? The human response is to put up walls, collect old baggage and develop prejudices against others. Withdrawal, anger, self-pity, self-hatred and other negative emotions might be collected into our luggage of life.
Perhaps a better way is demonstrated by these two beautiful creatures. Maybe willingness to accept differences and work together with respect for one another is helpful to move past the negative. These two animals appear to have moved on.
The picture and story seem to indicate that they have found joy in living despite the past hardships they have experienced and their differences. Dema and Nia have become peaceful companions despite what instinct would tell them, to fear and destroy.
The community of Roseto, Pennsylvania, demonstrated the health giving effects of close relationships up until the 1970’s. It is true that the members of this community shared cultural similarities but the uniqueness and education of each individual was valued and even celebrated.
If you lived in Roseto during this time, you would often share a household of 3 generations, you knew your neighbors and shared with them, and differences were acknowledged, addressed and solved. You would have difficulty finding stories about prolonged inter-personal conflict.
Faith, fun, fellowship and food were an essential part of each day. People were nourished by other people and social networking was an important part of each person’s free time. Most tables were typically graced with foods containing refined carbohydrates and high cholesterol fats. Astonishingly, these people enjoyed greater cardiac health than any other community in the area.
Cardiac mortality for men between the ages of 55 and 64 was near zero and for men over 65 the cardiac death rate was half the national average. These people became the object of a national study because their mortality rates were higher than the national average despite unhealthy diets.
The study found that the practice of respect, honor and fellowship with one another brought greater health and more satisfaction of life. The practice of families eating together, neighbors visiting together, and community participation in worship as well as events brought corporate peace as well as personal peace.
What if as an individual, I work on building and deepening personal relationships? What if I take seriously the admonition that our spiritual enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy life but that God wants us to have abundant life despite difficulties? What if I really start to believe that relationships with people who love God and one another are life giving?
These choices could bring greater life in my home, family and community. Church denominations might join together. Competitive businesses might look for ways to help one another. Democrats and Republicans might agree. Communities might experience a great healing and refreshing. Children and grandparents might be better cared for, family feuds might end and divorce rates might fall. Creativity in all areas probably would flourish as individuals no longer focus on hurts and pain but have renewed energy to be imaginative and inventive.
How many of us have prayed, “Thy will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.” Could this story of Dema and Nia be a little hint from Father in heaven?