The Giraffe. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like Giraffe's. They conjure up all types of images and feelings in people. Usually, one thinks of them as the awkwardly charming gentle giant of Africa.
We were lucky enough to see some Giraffe while in Africa. And I can tell you that they are indeed amazing! They can be amazingly quiet, making almost no noise while walking calmly from tree to tree.
But, as we discovered one day, you shouldn't be fooled by the perception that these animals are gentle giants who wouldn't harm a fly. Listen, they live out in the wild and they are on the food chain. They are often hunted by lions. And the lions are not hunting just the young calves, they will take down a full grown Bull Giraffe.
Looking at a lion and then looking at the Giraffe, you might assume that it wouldn't be a fair fight, that the Giraffe would end up on the dinner plate more often than not. But the Giraffe have a few things up their sleeves. For starters, those long legs can pack quite a punch. If they land a kick on a lion, it's going to smart. They have been known to break a lion's jaw with one swift, well timed kick. And they are no slouch in the speed department either, they can run up to 34 miles an hour-- pretty fast for such a big animal. So, just knowing those facts alone should garner the Giraffe some healthy respect.
However, it is the way that the Bulls battle for dominance that got my attention, and respect. One day, while out and about, we came across a small herd of Bulls doing this...
It's called necking, and it's a battle for dominance. The males compete with each other for dominance by steadying their legs and swinging their necks at each other to deliver sledgehammer like blows to their opponent. A full grown Bull's neck can weigh up to 500 pounds. You might also notice that they have two short but strong horns on top of their heads called ossicones. They will use these to head butt the soft underbelly of their opponent to inflict damage. And remember those kicks I mention earlier, they are not above using those legs against each other as well. You can hear the sounds from them "necking" each other up to a half mile away. The goal is to either tip the opponent over, injure him so severely that he gives up, or to simply intimidate the other male to the point of surrender. They have been known to break necks, jaws, ribs, and legs in this process.
Brings a whole new meaning to the term fight club. Before witnessing this behavior, I would have thought the saying of " you fight like a Giraffe" to be a derogatory one. Not any more. These Giraffe's mean business.
Now these two were young males, and more than likely they were practicing honing their fighting skills. Their efforts were a little clumsy and not entirely serious. But when they fully mature, that will change.
So, make the leap with me today to a somewhat practical application. Sort of....I'll admit the leap is big today. We have all heard the term that you "choose" gratitude. And I somewhat agree with that term, but like our somewhat soft views of the nature of a Giraffe, I think the term "choose" is too soft for what you have to do in order to live a life full of gratefulness. 1st Thessalonians 5:17-18 says this:
"Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." NIV
the Message says it this way:
"Be cheerful no matter what, pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."
I think, in life that there are some days where maybe gratefulness comes a little easier, and the choice is an easy one. You get an unexpected promotion or a raise or you receive a surprise gift. Gratitude in those instances is easy to have and readily expressed.
What about in the day to day things? Like a pretty sunrise, or hearing a child laugh, or eating a good breakfast? If we are honest, we are probably half in half on this one . We don't always feel or express gratitude. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. But, if it is pointed out to us that we didn't express our gratitude, most of us would feel bad, and then comply. It wouldn't be hard to express gratitude in those circumstances. Still fairly easy.
But, let's take this a step farther-- what about the day that someone hits and totals your car? The car you just finished paying off? You are physically unharmed, but your car is toast. And they don't have insurance. And you really can't afford a new car. Give thanks, even then? Most of us could at least come around to a grudging level of gratitude by at least acknowledging that although the car is gone, we are unharmed. But this gratitude thing is getting harder, right?
How about when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious disease? Or when your child is severely injured? Thanks even then????
What about when a loved one is told that they are dying, and there's nothing more to be done. You watch them suffer. You see the pain. Or you loose a child. Still, we should be grateful?
This gratitude thing, that upon first glance looks so awkwardly charming, suddenly becomes hard. You see, life is a BIG opponent. Life happens. Hardship, illness, poverty, loss, and yes death. It's all part of life. And yet, we are instructed to be thankful for it all.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said this about gratitude, " Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."
I'll be honest with you, I highly value gratitude. It is one of the character qualities I most value and strive for (I often fail). Often, it has been easy for me to be grateful. I have a lot in my life to be grateful for. Family, friends, opportunity, and beauty are all around me.
And yet, this year my biggest battle has been to remember to be grateful in ALL things. Don't get me wrong, I have had many times that I have been grateful for, but not always. Not in all things. Most people probably wouldn't blame me for the moments that I didn't feel gratitude. There are events in life that are hard and tragic, and most of us would fail to find gratitude in those moments. But, the scripture I quoted from Thessalonians didn't say anything about selective gratitude. It was quite clear that thankfulness was to be present in all circumstances.
And that is where the real battleground takes place, those events that come at you like a 3,000 pound Giraffe swinging it's 500 pound neck towards your ribcage while it jabs it's short hard horns into your underbelly-- leaving you bruised, broken, and hurt. And during those times... we are to be grateful and thankful. And it is hard.
So, how do you make headway in this battle for gratefulness in all things. I think the key battleground maneuver is stated in the few words just before we are told to give thanks. Pray. Pray continuously. Pray all the time. Pray.
Let's take a side step into this prayer thing. I think sometimes we think we need to "clean up" our prayers that we present to God. Like He doesn't already know and understand what we are really thinking. But I don't think that is the type of prayer that will be effective in the heat of the battle. In the deep depths of fierce battle, you don't have the time to "clean it up." When you are in the battle, you need urgent, immediate help. God isn't scared by your messy and honest cries for help. He doesn't shy away from the hardness of battle. Pain, doubt, suffering, disbelief, loneliness, anger, despair, grief, shame, horror-- none of these things are new to God. He knows and understands these feelings inside and out. You won't scare God away with your messy prayers.
I can tell you that in the midst of some of my most honest, messiest, heart wrenching prayers-- God has met me. He has given me peace when I needed it. Comfort when I needed it. He has listened to it all-- all the vomit of emotions that I spew out-- and He has been there. Steady. Never wavering. And that is where I find my gratitude. That is where the seeds of gratefulness are planted and begin to make deep roots in my soul. In the midst of hardship, I find that I am thankful for a relationship with a God who is always there, listening, leaning in to hear my whispered prayers, and even my shouted ones. And I find myself grateful. Grateful that God is there...always. It's still a battle some days, this gratitude thing. But, It's one well worth risking, because the reward of having a grateful heart makes my life richer, fuller, more colorful and vibrant, more meaningful, and full of joy.
I know that many of you are fighting this battle, right now., as you read this. I know that most of us, if not deep in the battle currently, will at some point in the future face this same battle. I want to encourage you to be fierce. Be persistent. Brace your legs and get ready to swing your neck. Learn how to fight like a Giraffe. PRAY. PRAY. PRAY. Pray messy, heartfelt, gut-wrenching, real prayers. God is listening.
I'll leave you with a few more Giraffe photos. Hopefully you will at least look at this amazing animal with a new appreciation.
