A few opening comments before I dive right into this blog. I have taken a VERY long break from writing. In fact, I thought I might be done with that season, and yet I find myself writing this today. I am writing this as a result of a recent conversation with someone dear to me. This conversation birthed this particular blog. So this one is for you, dear loved one, you know who you are. Here we go....
I'm sure that I do not have to identify the animals in the above photograph taken on a trip to the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. Giraffe are one of those animals that are immediately recognized by all. And part of what makes them so recognizable is that they are a distinctly different looking animal. In fact, Geraldine Jewsbury said,
"Did you ever see a giraffe? It is like something from between regions of truth and fiction."
Upon first look, the Giraffe does not "fit in" with the rest of animals it is surrounded by. They stick out like sore thumbs, with their long, gangly looking legs and stretched out necks. They have these long skinny tails that end in a strange puff of rough fur. Their faces are long and triangular, giving them an almost comical look. And when they open up their mouth they have this crazy looking long, dark tongue. They have a tendency to drool. A lot. They eat differently, sleep differently, and, due to their height, they see things differently than most of the other animals around them.
In spite of their long neck, they actually can't reach the ground to graze or to drink water without awkwardly splaying their legs, bending their knees, and craning their neck forward. It's as uncomfortable as it looks, not only because of the effort this takes, but also because it leaves the Giraffe completely vulnerable to attack from a predator. To make matters worse, due to the distance between the heart and the brain, this position requires their heart to work extra hard to pump the blood where it needs to go.
And these gangly, knobby kneed, awkward looking animals are placed in Africa and surrounded with arguably some of the most beautiful animals in the world. Like the dainty, sleek, pretty faced Gazelles. Or the speedy and agile Springboks who can run 55 mph and leap over 6 feet into the air. Don't forget the the supple grace and stunning beauty of a Leopard. Being surrounded by that type of beauty and talent would be enough to give anyone a complex.
One might look at the Giraffe and wonder if God was thinking clearly when he got around to creating them. One might even wonder if mistakes were made. Maybe the Giraffe was a design flaw, because it is definitely not like the others.
Which brings me to this question, have you ever felt like a Giraffe surrounded by Gazelles, Springboks, and Leopards? Have you ever felt like you see the world from a different point of view than others? I know I have. I know I have been in group settings where my interests, skill sets, activities, and views were vastly different than everyone else. It can be especially awkward if everyone else seems like they are all aligned in interests and activities and you find that you are the Giraffe, sticking out and different. I'm going to circle back to this, but let's return to our Giraffe story, because there's more to unpack and learn about our animal friend.
Giraffes are the tallest land Mammal on earth. Their height makes them stick out, but it also gives them a fabulous advantage, in that they can see over trees and bushes that many other animals can't. They also have superb eyesight and can see long distances. The combination of height and keen eyesight makes them excellent at spotting trouble, in particular, predators. They can spot a predator before anyone else has a clue that there is anything wrong. This makes the Giraffe a desirable companion, and you often find herds of prey animals hanging around the Giraffe, counting on them being an early warning system for predators.
Because of their height, Giraffes tend to eat the leaves, flowers, and fruit that other herbivores are unable to reach. This provides several advantages for the Giraffe. The most obvious is the fact that they usually can find food, even if the lower branches and foliage have been over-grazed. But the less obvious advantage is that it allows them to live in harmony with other herbivores because they are not competing with each other for food.
Are you ready for a few more incredible and unique Giraffe facts? They are not as reliant on water as some of the other animals are. In fact, they get a much of their water from the dew on the leaves they eat as well as the leaves themselves. So they can go a couple of days without water, unlike the Cape Buffalo, who have to drink water every day. And since they are at their most vulnerable when bending down to drink it is helpful to not have to put themselves into that dangerous position more than necessary.
And let's talk about that drooling problem. News flash, it's not a problem at all. Their sticky saliva helps them get their food all the way down that very long neck and into their stomaches. But the coolest thing about Giraffe spit? It's a known natural antiseptic. You see, Giraffe have a taste for Acacia trees, and these trees have known antiseptic qualities, which is then integrated into their saliva. And this natural antiseptic found in their saliva helps the Giraffe heal any cuts on their tongues and mouth they may get while eating from the very thorny Acacia Trees. It also helps prevent any infection from settling in. And that crazy looking dark blue tongue? The dark blue color keeps them from getting sunburn on their tongue. Unlike most herbivores, their tongue is prehensile, which allows them to grip and strip the leaves off the branches. Very useful indeed.
Recent research also discovered that Giraffes are pretty smart cookies, despite their relatively small brain size. In fact, in recent tests Giraffe have shown the ability to use statistical inferences to increase their likelihood of eating their favorite treat. They use this reasoning while grazing, searching out ways to get the best food possible.
And it turns out that Giraffes are not loners, they are just more subtle about their bonds. In fact, they have quite complex social structures. Giraffes form yearslong relationships, have "lunch buddies," and maintain close bonds with their mothers and grandmothers. Females often form Creches, a type of daycare, where they share babysitting and feeding duties of the calves. It's also been shown that post-reproductive Giraffes engage in cooperative parenting as well. This may be where the concept of them being "gentle" came from.
I hope this deeper dive into some Giraffe 'facts" made you to look at them differently. God knew what He was doing when He made the Giraffe. And He definitely had a plan and purpose for the Giraffe to fulfill in the animal kingdom. A role that no other animal could fill. And isn't that a perfect picture of how God works, even in the human world?
In fact, the bible is full of "Giraffes" that God used in amazing ways. These were people that stuck out, they were different than anyone else. They looked different, thought differently, had different interests than the others around them. People like John the Baptist-- he was certainly a Giraffe. He wore camel's hair and ate locust and wild honey, he didn't live like or look like anybody else. And yet he was the one God created with the purpose of preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus.
So to bring this blog to a close, I want to circle back to the question of do you ever feel like a Giraffe? Sticking out instead of comfortably fitting in? Vastly different than anyone else in terms of interests, skills, activities, and maybe even life experiences? If so, let me encourage you by saying that God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. He says so in scripture.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
""My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth." Psalm 139:15
"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8
And you have been created to fill your spot here on earth. So, instead of worrying that you are not 'like" everyone else around you, rejoice in the purpose you were specifically created for. You may not be able to run as fast as the Springboks around you. And you may not be as dainty and pretty as the Gazelles, but your value to the group lies in your differences. Remember that the Springboks and Gazelles hang around the Giraffe, not because they are the same, but because the Giraffe brings a set of assets and skills that they do not have. The Giraffe is often the one who spots the incoming danger first. They hang around the Giraffe because they can live in harmony with others. The Giraffe isn't interested in competing with the others. And I would add that I imagine that other animals hang around Giraffes because the Giraffe is tolerant of a variety of different species.
So next time you are feeling out of place, not like the others, awkward, unsure, insecure, I want you to remember the story of the Giraffe. And just like the Giraffe, you are purposefully created. You have a role to play. Let your unique features be your strengths, just like the Giraffes. Don't waste time trying to be like a Gazelle or Springbok, that's not who you were created to be. The Giraffe add value to their community by simply being themselves. I hope this leaves you feeling encouraged. And if nothing else, I hope you enjoy some of the photos I took while in Africa. I'll leave you with a few more.
