Wonderin’ Where the Lions Are - A Story About Community
Posted: Monday, October 1, 2007 by My Waverley
This story was presented at our Men's Breakfast on 29 Sept 07 and illustrates the value of Community.
Wonderin’ Where the Lions Are
By Sean C
I saw a video on MySpace today taken during a safari on an African Game Reserve. Two adult water buffalo and one calf were walking down a path beside a river one sunny day. Off to the side, the camera zoomed in on two female lions hiding behind some bushes – obviously waiting for the buffalo to come closer. In a flash of fur and dust, the lions erupted from their ambush location and were on top of the buffalo. The three buffalo broke contact and ran for their lives with the lions in hot pursuit.
The calf fell behind, and the lions pounced. They all fell into a heap of horns, paws, and fur, and rolled into the river. Suddenly, four more lions were on the scene assisting the others in claiming their prey by grabbing onto the calf and pulling him out of the river. In a giant splash, a huge crocodile came up out of the water, grabbed the calf in its jaws and tried to pull it back into the river. The six lions were now in a brutal tug-of-war with the croc over the helpless calf. In the end, the lions prevailed and dragged the calf back onto the land, and got ready to finish off the animal and get down to some serious eating.
The camera left this scene and panned left. A herd of about 100 very angry and very organized water buffalo was moving very quickly towards the lions and their prey. In a matter of moments, the lions were surrounded by the herd of water buffalo. In the minutes that followed, the lions were “taken to the woodshed” and soundly beaten. The buffalo stomped, kicked, and chased the lions away. In one spectacular scene, a lion was scooped up in the wide rack of horns of a huge male buffalo and thrown into the water.
In spite of all this, the calf survived this horrific ordeal, and was later reunited with its mother. The lions were sent off with their tails between their legs.
You know, some days it seems like we are being attacked from all angles and literally fought over in a tug-of-war by the powers and principalities of darkness. In these situations it looks like we are doomed. It is only through the direct intervention of God, his host of angels, and his children – our brothers and sisters - do we get the strength and support to fight and defeat the enemy on the spiritual battlefield.
My friends, there can be no victory without conflict. There can be no triumph without suffering. There is no salvation without the shedding of Christ’s blood. We know we must have faith. We know must put our final trust in God. We know we must pray for strength, wisdom and endurance to walk the path he has chosen for us.
In the beginning of the video, 3 water buffalo were attacked by predators. At the end of the video, 100 water buffalo came together as a community and defeated the attackers. As you think about this story, think about this question: Where will you be, and what will you do when the lions come for your brothers and sisters?
May God have mercy on us all.
Amen |
