lastflightoftheancients

What moves in us in the opening scene of the Lion King as the camera sweeps over multitudes of creatures all running towards the Rock to see their new King? What makes us smile when we see a big, fat cat roll on the floor next to the baby to keep it company? What moves us to tears when the family dog rushes into the fire to save his master’s infant son asleep in the cot? What stirs in our hearts when we hear age-old tales of Romulus and Remus being brought-up by the she-wolf; or the boy brought up by creatures deep in the jungle? It is as though this was the way things were meant to be. I wonder if this hunch is more correct than we dare to hope for?

On the flipside, there are incredible tragedies. What makes our blood boil when the family pooch turns on the hand that fed it? What saddens us when a lion trainer, who has raised this creature from infancy mauls the trainer to death? Why does it surprise us when Creation goes crazy and sends floods and storms and earthquakes?

Truth is, perhaps we don’t ask why enough. We are often too quick to blame God for being unfair and for not being compassionate enough. But perhaps we have missed something vital. Perhaps we don’t realise how pivotal a part we have played as human beings in causing this disharmony. The world that Evanna’s story was set in, was a world where some of the Animals were loyal to humans in a very daring, committed way – even to battle and death. In that same world, some have turned into creatures that induced fear and hate. And Evanna, with her Gift of Communion moved between them.

A Glimpse of Eden – a Covenant of Love

In the very centre of our souls is the memory of Eden – of the harmony that once was. When Creation was in a right relationship with us, its stewards. I once read an article of a study – I believe it was in conjunction with something Micah Challenge (a Christian advocacy movement for those who are poor and disadvantaged around the world) that the Earth has more than enough resources for every human being who lives on it and more. However, due to exploitation and greed – there is now too much in some quarters (throwing out excess food every night) and in some quarters there is simply not enough.

Perhaps I should rewind a bit. I want you to stay with me.

Genesis 1 tells us that when God created the heavens and the earth, he “saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:9, 12b, 18, 21, 25b). Soon after that God created humankind “in His Image, male and female He created them” v. 27. To cut the long story short, God let Adam be caretaker of all the creatures, and allowed Adam to name the creatures. Before we rush into the fall and everything thereafter – I want us to stay in Eden for a while. There was harmony between man and woman – and a trust so deep that there was no shame. The creatures did not attack each other – they did not attack Adam but let Adam name them. There was fellowship and belonging and trust. These are the very things that move in our hearts when we see the Lion King.

The Covenant is Forgotten:

Yes, we long for Eden. But we are forgetful creatures.

When was the last time you asked God to be the boss of your life? When was the last time you stopped to listen to what He had to say? I would say to you that while we want Eden we are content to ignore the Creator. Content to ignore Him until something goes wrong. When someone dies – the first to get the blame is the God no one bothered to acknowledge while the loved one is alive. Perhaps it is we, humans who are unfair?

We are forgetful of the power our actions have – that our ignoring God opens the way for a Curse – the Curse of Genesis 3. It is not a curse of vengeance – it is the declaration that the relationship is no longer hunky-dory. We are no longer buddies with the rest of Creation, because Adam did not follow God’s instructions on how to take care of it. That pure relationship of total trust in God and total trust in each other is the very KEY to Eden. Break that and Eden was broken.

The Blue Scorpion Connection:

The entire world of Evanna and her friends was constructed on this very worldview. Evanna existed in a world where the Fall was still only very fresh, and the creatures still recall the covenant of the Most High – their covenant to serve the stewards of Creation.

The Ancients, the Big Cats and the great birds all kept the covenant to be faithful and to love, protect and serve. The Horses, led by their King Eytan came to lend their strength – but many also shied away from their covenant, and chose not to follow their King Eytan. Many other creatures in the land at the time have already forgotten their covenant, and had started to become rabid and develop a blood-lust. They have attacked humans and ate each other. The Gift of Communion was becoming rare – the ability to communicate with and understand the creatures. It is not some mystical power – it was what was meant to be – now tainted by blood.

Even today, some creatures still recall their covenant. Today, some humans still recall their covenant.

Only God – the one who Created the world can restore the world to what it was intended to be.

Some people like to challenge Christians with this question: Do animals/pets go to Heaven?

Well, my answer would be this: I don’t know. But I know this: That the Bible says in Isaiah 11:6-9 these words:

 “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with teh bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobr and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Perhaps this sounds far-fetched. Perhaps you don’t see how I’ve connected the dots. I didn’t do them all on my own. Perhaps you need to ask the Creator to help you to see. You might find yourself surprised to experience that God has been wanting to reach out to you to be a part of that Grand Restoration. That day will happen. But it must be on the Creator’s terms. Will you be a part of it?

~ by alta6060212 on February 17, 2012.

Posted in Flying with the Ancients - Reflections on Blue Scorpion, Plot's Point