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Coming over here in Djibouti North Africa, I was wondering just what wildlife, especially mammals could be found. When one thinks of Africa, immediately you think of the abundant wildlife that is here. Mammals include several species of antelope and the gazelle.
As a result of the hunting ban imposed since early 1970 these species are well conserved now. The warthog, can be found as well as a few zebra, and baboons. I saw a herd of camels recently going to my hotel after work on the military base. But not sure if the giraffe population is this far north.
Have you ever thought about what it must be like being born a giraffe? Me neither but just this morning I read a brief description of what goes with coming into this world as a long-legged giraffe. First off, you plummet approximately 10 feet to the hard ground on your back upon arrival.
BAM!
In his book, “A View from the Zoo,” Gary Richmond describes how a newborn giraffe learns its first lesson. After baby giraffe hits the ground, it rolls over and gathers its long legs up under its belly and tries to shake the remaining afterbirth from its eyes and mouth and nose. Then, mom does the unthinkable. She gets directly over her newborn and kicks the little darling sprawling. After it regains itself and once again gathers its long legs up under itself she repeats the process until baby long legs jumps to its feet and tries to follow mom as she bolts away. This is all for survival in the wilds in the unsafe environment of Africa. There is no time for nurturing the convenient way as there are predators everywhere like hungry lions and hyenas ready to pounce on the little guy. When he hits the ground he has got to be moving lest he is to be something's breakfast or noon day meal.
I thought about that this morning, as we now live in an unsafe environment called America. What once was called a Christian nation has slowly evolved into a sadistic and heathen society where right is now called wrong and wrong is called right. One has to be up on their game to sense if they are about to be the victim is just another con artist trying to scam them.
The Judas kiss is prevalent and not 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' That left with Lottie's eye. I was one of the fortunate ones to be raised in a golden era where the Bible was THE book and the flag respected.
A gentleman's handshake was better than any old contract and a man's word his bond. There was a 'Blue Law' on the books that forbid merchandising on Sunday. That's gone too because the big S with two lines through it is the law. Something has happened to us and I don't like it. We now have a jungle mentality to deal with. Normal has taken a hike as now we see abnormality everywhere. I'm expecting a Marine vet to come over sometime this morning to befriend. The man is one of many who gave years of his life to the war on terrorism in both Iraq and Afghanistan who now battles PTSD.
Every war vet comes home with scars. Not all scars are visible.
I will do everything in my power to be a good listener and consoler. I've been down the same road he has only not out in the fire fights he had to engage in. I was blessed as a DOD contractor to remain behind the wire. He had to take the fight to the enemy and has paid the price with injuries. He should be dead but God was merciful. He's still paying the price with the memories that won't leave. Both he and I exchanged two war zones for another upon return.
America is another war zone.
Like the giraffe, he and I has had to hit the ground upon our return running for our lives. Yes, like the baby giraffe we don't have to time to relax and chill. We have to stay on high alert and pray to survive. That blessed old book we call the Bible said it would get this way and it is. But like all the heroes we read about in that old book, they waxed strong in battle. It's called conditioning and right now most of us are in training. Like a good watch, we take a licking but keep on ticking.
Lessons from a giraffe.
God bless you and God bless America.
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