Unfiltered Affection

 “You are the God of great wonders." ~ Psalm 77:14

When rescuers arrived at the scene, they were surprised to find a small herd of elephants standing vigil around the injured calf, shielding him from another lion attack. The mammoth sentries remained calm as if they knew the Kenyans were trying to save his life. The injured baby was whisked by helicopter to the Nairobi Nursery as her guardians melted back into the wilderness.

The vet’s prognosis was grim: lion bites are prone to infection, and his leg injuries were extensive. The immediate goal was to ease his pain and buoy his spirits. They knew from experience that an elephant’s emotional state makes or breaks a recovery.

They placed him in a cozy stable with two other baby elephants, Mzinga and Nyambeni, who instantly ‘adopted’ him. They brought milk and set up mud baths so he could enjoy daily rituals. Due to his lack of mobility, his days mostly consisted of long naps.

There was no shortage of qualified nannies. When the 250-pound baby boy dozed, fellow orphans and the 2-year-old surrogate pachyderms provided round-the-clock care and a much-needed ‘family’ structure for the young elephant who’d lost his own family.

With such a promising start and constant attention, he quickly gained strength and began acting like a normal, spirited boy. They named him Askari, Swahili for "warrior," and his unlikely healing brought national attention.

While a reporter from “The Daily Nation,” Kenya’s most widely read newspaper, asked Director Kaunda about Askari’s rescue and recuperation, the playful calf frolicked in the background and stole the spotlight!

Kaunda inadvertently mentioned Askari’s name. That prompted an immediate and friendly reaction from Askari. The little guy darted forward and began a delightful display of affection as Askari nuzzled against his human caretaker, expressing genuine happiness.

His presence was impossible to ignore, yet Kaunda was unfazed by the interruption. He casually included Askari’s amusing behavior in his interview. “Oh, Askari,” he chuckled, “always one to make an entrance, aren’t you?” Picture perfect!

Although elephants aren't specifically mentioned in the Bible, their attributes can symbolize God's magnificence. Their size and power can symbolize God's might and sovereignty. Female elephants are revered for their leadership and protective nature.

The jumbo giants live in complex social groups, or herds, with strong bonds between family members, and the entire herd helps raise the young. They display emotional depth such as joy, grief, and compassion. Elephants communicate through a wide range of sounds, scent markings, and physical displays, demonstrating intricate social interactions. They can remember humans, locations, and migration routes over huge areas.

Askari’s playful interruption serves as a reminder of the bond between humans and elephants, one built on humor, curiosity, and mutual respect. We can learn a lot about harmonious coexistence from these magnificent creatures.

Loving Father, thank You for these intelligent, gentle giants who grace our planet with their human-like presence. May they continue to roam free, their wisdom and strength a testament to Your boundless creation. Amen

The Cross He Wears

“May His sacrifice on the cross bring God’s love and mercy to us all.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:23

After his baptism, the exhausted infant returned home and was put to bed. His was the kind of sleep adults dream of - peaceful and rhythmic, oblivious to any fear or pain.

Sometime later, his Mom said, “When I changed his clothes, I forgot to put his cross back on.” Joe, the boy’s Godfather, rose quickly. “Please let me put the cross on my new Godchild!”

But when he placed the cross delicately around Johnny’s neck, the little angel awoke and began screaming. His mother rushed in, smiled softly, and, in her soothing way, took the scared child from his outstretched arms.

No matter how she tried to console the boy – cuddle, rock, or sing softly to him, nothing worked. Next, Dad appeared in relief, but Johnny’s shrill cries continued, broken only by his gasping for breath in between.

When Dad carried the child out to their waiting guests, the baby’s cries ended immediately. He broke into a smile as sweet as a Dominican pineapple.

“That’s all he wanted,” Dad smiled jokingly. “He must’ve wanted to join the celebration.”

He’d barely finished when a loud noise from the nursery shook the whole house. A cloud of dust wafted from the bedroom as they all rushed in. A ceiling fan had fallen from right over Johnny’s crib. Huge pieces of wood and plaster were piled on the spot where the child had just slept.

The grace of his cross alerted the little boy… and likely saved his life.

Anyway, that’s how the story was told to him.

The cross he wears today isn’t to honor the Dad that may’ve saved his life. It hangs on a thin, gold chain that his Mom wore before her passing.

It’s not jewelry, nor meant to be flashy. For him, it offers both spiritual and sentimental significance.

First, it's meant to remind him of Jesus’ sacrifice on that torturous cross. It prompts him to take up his cross every day. In the words of John Wesley, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."

Another reason he wears a cross is so that others know that he’s a Christian and to hold him accountable for that claim. It challenges him to live his faith publicly.

Finally, he keeps his cross near his heart to remind him of Christ’s promise of eternal salvation. He knows that he’ll be reunited with loved ones in Heaven someday and will recognize his mother and father immediately.

There may be other methods of achieving this, but for him, the cross he wears is the best. Jesus died on a cross; it’s the least he can do!

“Heavenly Father, lift the darkness from our hearts. Instill in us proper Christian faith, assured hope, confident action, and perfect love, that we may do Your holy and true command.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Daddy's Hands

 “People’s hands tell much about His work. Jesus’ hands reveal His redemptive work." ~ Zach. 13:6

Incredibly complex and versatile, each human hand features 29 joints, 123 ligaments, 35 muscles, and 27 bones, including an opposable thumb that allows manipulation and grasping. They carry more sensory receptors than any other part of the body.

Emerson put down her Human Physiology textbook for the night, poured herself a glass of wine, and relaxed for the first time in probably a week. Preparing for med school midterms was brutal.

She sat in her father’s decades-old recliner, not even noticing the stained and faded fabric. She caught herself thinking of Ray, who worked two jobs to help pay for her tuition after Mom passed away during her sophomore year. She pictured his hands folded silently in prayer.

Ray wasn’t a big man, but his hands were enormous, like two sledgehammers. They were strong, powerful hands; toughened and heavily calloused from years of construction work. Deeply tanned, they bore the noticeable imprint of hard work. And yet, when she thought of his hands, it wasn’t simply about their size and might that brought grateful tears.

As a kid, Emerson marveled that he could do things that required delicate skills with such large fingers, like fixing small toys, removing slivers, and tugging out baby teeth. Yet, when those massive hands carried her into the ER a few times, she appreciated their strength.

In a way, he showed emotion through his hands. They were welcoming and kind, yet also protective. His were not angry, hurtful hands, but hands that valued, guided, and deeply loved her. They were soft and kind when she cried but firm when she’d done wrong… always with love.

She followed his instructions for the best way to grasp a softball when pitching a ‘riser’ or ‘curve ball.’ She learned how to change a tire, fix a door handle, and rewire a light switch thanks to his hands. They were practical skills but also an opportunity to connect and bond with her Dad as they worked on projects together.

Now that he too had passed, she recalled how he grasped the responsibilities of raising a family and clutched his Christian obligations. Emerson longed for those embracing hands that could drain away the worries of the day and yet simultaneously set her free. His hands were never meant to be avoided but ones to be cherished, like those of Jesus – also a carpenter.

Jesus’ hands broke bread and fed multitudes. They once applied clay to a blind man’s eyes, touched lepers, healed the sick, washed the disciple’s feet, and held children in His arms. These were hands capable of reversing death’s grip. Most importantly, the hands of our Heavenly Father have reached out across time and space to embrace us with the love that only God can give.

Almighty Father, Your hands serve many purposes. Thank you for instructing, commanding, guiding, and warning us. We appreciate all You’ve given freely to us if we simply come by faith to the foot of the cross. Amen

The Good Angel

 “Violent people have been trying to seize God’s earthly Kingdom forever." ~ Matthew 11:12

She was born the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer in 1890. When her father died nine years later, Maria was left to raise her five siblings while her mother worked the fields. As such, she never learned to read or write.

Her young life never seemed to pause. She also cooked, cleaned, and sewed for two next-door neighbors - Giovanni and his alcoholic son, Alessandro. Despite their extreme poverty, the family remained close and piously worshipped God.

During this time, Alessandro developed an impure liking for the beautiful 11-year-old with chestnut hair and delicate features. After months of crude taunting, the 20-year-old brute attempted to rape her.

Maria defended her God-given purity, screaming: "No! This is a sin; God doesn’t want this!"

Enraged, Alessandro stabbed her heart 11 times. When she attempted to flee, he stabbed her three more times in the back.

She survived for several hours after undergoing surgery without anesthesia. When asked if she forgave her attacker, she replied: "Yes, for the love of Jesus I forgive him... and I want him to be with me in Paradise." Reassured by the Church’s last sacraments, Maria died the next day from an infection brought on by her wounds.

Alessandro, a legal minor, was sentenced to thirty years. He remained unashamed for his actions until, during the eleventh year of his incarceration, Maria appeared before him in a dream. From his account, “She smiled at me and offered an armful of the lilies. When I took them, each lily transformed into a pure-white flame.” 

He awoke a changed man, begging God for forgiveness.

After serving seventeen more years in prison, he visited Maria's mother and asked for her mercy. She gave it willingly, saying, "If my daughter forgave you, who am I to withhold it?” He became a porter and gardener at a Capuchin monastery, a job he held for the rest of his life.

On June 24, 1950, Pope Pius XII canonized Maria Goretti as the youngest saint at the time. It was the first time in its history that St. Peter’s Basilica - the largest church in the world - couldn’t be used for a Canonization Mass.

Among the half million souls at the open-air ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, 66-year-old, ex-con, Alessandro Serenelli, sobbed tears of joy.

Before he died in 1970, Alessandro wrote an open letter to the public stating: “Saint Maria Goretti was my good Angel, sent to me through Providence to guide and save me. I still have impressed upon my heart her words of rebuke and pardon.”

The feast of St. Maria Goretti is celebrated annually by Roman Catholics worldwide on July 6^th. She’s the Patron Saint of chastity, rape victims, youth, poverty, purity, and forgiveness.

Saint Maria, look kindly at those who’ve strayed from the path of eternal salvation. Free us from evil temptations, comfort our sorrows, and guide us, that one day we might enjoy the enduring glory of Heaven with you. Amen

Respect - Earner or Given?

 “Show proper respect to everyone: love others as He loves you." ~ 1 Peter 2:17

While the guest speaker waited for his turn to address an assembly of young people, their Youth Leader attempted to make some brief announcements and a blessing. Throughout this, the students talked, laughed, texted, and were disrespectful to the leader and each other.

When it came time for Joshua to speak, he began by asking if they knew what ‘respect’ meant. Out of almost 100 students, only one offered a meaningful description: “It’s something you have to earn!” she proudly said.

“Hmm,” Joshua began thoughtfully. “Actually, respect means honoring people when they talk; valuing them, and treating others as you wish to be treated. I observed a lot of disrespect during the gathering beforehand, not just to your Leader, but also to your peers.”

He gazed over the crowd, noticing several heads bowed as a wave of embarrassment washed over them. He’d gotten their attention.

Perhaps I’m just a curmudgeonly old guy now, but it seems to me that we aren’t as respectful as we used to be. Much of our culture believes that you don’t have to respect someone unless or until they respect you first. That’s a twisted version of how the Bible defines respect.”  

Then his tone took a more personal tone.

“Before I took my first baby steps, my father moved out of our home and left my pregnant Mom to raise six children on her own. I grew up believing that I had no obligation to show respect for that man who steered our family into a life of financial and emotional poverty.”

He went on to explain that wasn’t the standard Christ followed. The Apostle Peter (above) provides no prerequisites, restrictions, or guidelines for respect.

“My father, like Peter, was not perfect. Despite the mistakes he made, I must love and respect him because he’s precious to God and was made in His image. People shouldn’t have to “earn” the privilege of you treating them the way Jesus preached that they deserve to be treated.”

“Isn’t it amazing that we don’t have to earn God’s respect, or force others to earn ours? We are redeemed by His incredible gift of respect. As Christians, we should be dynamic examples of respect in our communities, and we have the chance to offer the unfathomable respect and grace of God to them, without asking them to earn it. How beautiful… and counter-cultural!”

Joshua closed by asking: “What would it look like if we changed our mindset from it's not all about us; that people don’t have to ‘earn’ the right to be treated rightly? What would it be like if you gave respect freely to everyone you encounter? Would others notice a difference in you?”

He ended his talk to raucous applause.

Jesus, thank You for the loving example You showed during Your life on earth. You were considerate to everyone, especially the poor and the sick. Help us to notice and respect the feelings of those around us, just as You did. Amen

A Charming Fourth

 "Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing!" ~ "My Country, 'Tis of Thee” V4

Independence Day, celebrated on July 4th, is a cherished U.S. holiday marked by enduring traditions and unique festivities. There’ll be parades, rodeos, MLB baseball, and, of course, fireworks. Joey Chestnut will return to Coney Island’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, and people will take an Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens at government sites, stadiums, and historic venues “from sea to shining sea.”

But there’s simply nothing better than the way small towns in America embrace and display their patriotic pride! They display classic Americana that you can't get in big city events. Everyone pitches in, from the mayor driving her antique car to a banker pulling a float with his 1928 John Deere Model C tractor.

On July 4^th, in this tiny, fictional town, excitement grows as the day’s festivities get set to begin. Lines form early along curbs, people vying for that perfect spot along Main Street. Life here is lived up close; today, residents will celebrate and mourn together.

It’s more than a time for family gatherings and public celebrations. Here, America’s birthday offers a chance to reflect on our nation's heritage and the sacrifices made for freedom. It's a day to take pride in the nation's progress and achievements.

A bright red convertible leads the parade, with Junior Miss “Something” waving from the backseat. The parade route was short, so her honorary reign lasted less than an hour.

A marching band follows, playing familiar tunes. Steeped in red, white, and blue decorations, it features a float made by a local hardware store. Leo, its owner, wore a straw hat and dangled a paper fish from a pole, pretending he was fishing. Local kids walked beside the float, cheerfully tossing candy to eager children.

The procession included clowns, fire and rescue vehicles, Shriner cyclists, and people dressed in historic costumes. Some take the opportunity to show off their favorite pet.

The parade route stretched about three blocks, ending at the park where members from the American Legion grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Adults visited with one another while kids swam, played sand volleyball, and got their faces painted. Traditional games like sack races, watermelon seed spitting contests, turtle races, and a 10k run contribute to the day's special atmosphere.

As the day lingered, some fished or napped until it was time for fireworks. Hundreds of brilliant, explosive, once-a-year fireworks light the sky! Maybe they pale by comparison to large pyrotechnic celebrations, but to these townies, they were magical.

The day retreats too quickly as darkness blankets the night. They were together on this day, together in one place, gazing up at the stars together. It’s a perfect ending for this charming small town on the Fourth of July.

Precious Lord, today we’re reminded of those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom, just like Your Son, Jesus. Let us never take freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that a very high price was paid for both. Amen