Elephants

At least I got your attention. The topic definitely came up obliquely. First, I was reading Job. That’s the book whose name is miss-pronounced and seems to be about troubles of a good person whose friends offer questionable advice until God speaks up and sets them all straight. In the midst of His speech, God speaks of creating a Behemoth- see quote

“Look at Behemoth,
    which I made along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.
¹⁶ What strength it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!
¹⁷ Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
¹⁸ Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs like rods of iron.

The commentary definition of a Behemoth is unicorn which definitely isn’t biblical to me. Elephant seemed to fit the description. I’m mulling over a comment I need to make that i have been trying to skirt, yet some form of it needs to be said. So the supportive statement floated up, “Deal with the elephant in the room!”

Still with me? Person to animal contact with elephants. The first was National Geographic: vegetarians do not have to be skinny. Walt Disney and the ear worm march of the elephants from The Jungle Book. A trip to the children’s zoo to pet a pint size one and find out that the skin has little prickly hairs. A son on a trip to Thailand visited a compound and sent a picture that emphasized the relationship between a six foot man and a full grown pachyderm. Next and last, I have a movie made as I ran along the side of elephants being moved to the Astrodome for the circus. They are not slow and lumbering.

How was all this helpful? They really do have long memories, not only for their own kind, but with people they have had bonding time with in the past. They are a social group: compassionate to members of their herd, protecting others as necessary, and offering strokes of love to those who are grieving. I will invoke them as my totem when I speak as graciously as possible to excuse the beast from the room.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

and

Speaking the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15