Walking across the lawn of the seminary
where we teach in Kenya, the monkey business going on in the trees
beside me wouldn't be ignored. Focused on my task, I was hesitant to
pause and take notice of them. I needed to get to the duka, the small
store on campus, to get copies made for the mid-term exam we'd be
giving the next morning.
The commotion in the trees let me know
the vervet monkeys were in an uproar about something, but what?
That's always a mystery when it comes to monkeys. As long as i wasn't
under them, i should be fine. (Monkeys sometimes do the nastiest
things with what comes from just under their long fury tales.)
Then the stone came flying near me, bouncing across the grass. So i stopped. Turned and looked up, as if i might have a talk with these fellas. Ha. Their grey fur could barely be seen as they frolicked 40 feet up in the green leaves and high branches. They wouldn't show their faces, they were hiding.
In that moment, i traveled back in
time, to my college days. Many moons back, sitting under trees on the
other side of the world, the squirrels and i would wrestle in a
similar way. Me with my lunch and a book, trying to squeeze a few
more needed facts into my overstuffed head, i'd study as i ate,
waiting for class to begin. Whether it was the same squirrel or a
family of them that took turns going to war with me, i never knew for
sure. But each day we'd “engage” in a silent battle, each wanting
to claim the bench under me. It was my favorite spot on campus. No
one passed that way often, the shade was cool and the breeze in the
leaves made the perfect soothing sound for an over-active mind. The
view was long and peace-filled, and i loved that quiet granite bench.
It was almost like a silent friend, always waiting for me, never late
and never angry if i was. But... the squirrel fought me daily, it too
counted that bench as a friend perhaps. For all the many times he
threw those hundreds of acorns at me, only two or three times was he
successful. Persistent he was, a marksman he was not. And while it
stung a bit the few times he was accurate, it only made me laugh. He
was a tiny squirrel, throwing a tiny acorn, and for me it felt more
like play than war.
But rocks from a monkey are much more
serious.
Life gets more serious as we grow older
doesn't it...
Pausing long enough to remember, and
smile to myself, i turned and walked more quickly, there was work to
be done. No time for monkeying around today. I stayed focused, the
monkey failed.
Just seven days earlier, we'd had a
different, much more serious encounter with monkeys of another sort.
It happened in Nakuru Game Park. Since the park is only a short drive
from our home, we'd made a plan to take a day of “rest” there. We
arrived early morning, planned to safari all day, and leave in time
to be home before dark. Here, it's best to be home before dark.
Bearly inside the gates, driving along
the dirt road surrounded by tall acacia trees and green, scrub
bushes, we encountered our first troop of baboons. Baboons are common
in and outside parks here, so rather than being excited to see them,
instead we pause to tuck away our snacks, baboons will invade your
space at the mere notion of a cracker. On this morning though,
thieving was not their priority. They were grooming one another and
oblivious to our arrival. One particularly large male caused us to
slow the car, he was massive, we paused for a gander at him. But
seconds after we'd stopped a commotion erupted from the bush just
beyond him. A heart-rending scream came from the heavy green cover,
and movement of leaves revealed another equally large baboon. As i
held my breath, knowing something was suffering just out of sight, my
everything froze. Then, in a violent show of aggression, the big arm
of the male, flung a tiny baby from the bush and into the ditch just
inches from our car. It was a newborn. Helpless, it screamed, but too
quickly he was upon it again. He did not care that we could see his
ruthlessness, he was intent on not just killing the helpless babe, he
was going to “play” it to death. Throwing it, biting it, jerking
it mercilessly, flinging it hard. It's tiny pink side was ripped
open, i knew it was only the beginning of its end.
Screaming inside our Lori-car, i
drowned out the babies screeches with my own. Beating the side of the
car with my arm, yelling to try and distract the cruel baboon, he
would not be deterred. So i opened by car door, just 3-4 feet from
him. My son and husband reacted quickly, fearing i was about to
emerge from the car and take on the fight bare-handed. I was not. But
instead, i opened and slammed the car door over and over again trying
desperately to distract and gain his attention. It worked for a split
second, as he turned he face full towards me, snarled his horrible
teeth at me, and never releasing the baby, he let me know, he would
do the same with me if i gave him a chance. Heart-breaking...
To see something helpless dying before
your eyes and knowing there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop
the pain. It's not something easily passed through.
As we drove away, we were surprised
when several female baboons began chasing our car. It was their show
of aggression. And i was infuriated even more. They would not stand
together to defend the baby one of them had given birth to --- but
instead they would act in defense of the cruel “leader” of the
troop.
It's most likely that the huge male had
just become the new patriarch of the troop, and his first act of
office was to clear the “debris” of the previous male's
offspring. But, there was a warped enjoyment as he killed that
helpless baby, and i longed for Heaven. In Heaven there will be no
murdering of babes.
Last night we enjoyed dinner with
friends. It doesn't happen often here for us. Missionary life for us
doesn't allow us to indulge in that sort of normal too very often.
But as we talked over dinner, yet another monkey story was shared.
And i silently thought to myself, “Ok Lord, i'm listening.” Since
usually if a matter keeps coming before me, i've lived long enough to
know, there's something i can learn or glean from the pieces.
Our friend shared about an incident
with a vervet monkey in Milimani, the area where we use to live in
Kitale. Our dinner companion had a friend who witnessed this event,
and shared.
While she was walking along the road, a
small group of vervet monkeys came down from the trees and walked
across the dirt road. A mother monkey among the group, walked as her
baby held on underneath her. This is the common way small babies
travel, holding on tight to their mother's chest. But as the mother
rushed across the road to avoid being hit by an oncoming picki
(motorcycle), the babe lost its grip and fell to the ground right in
front of the picki driver who ran over it. Instantly the baby monkey
died. The mother monkey rushed back to it, trying to awaken it, stir
it back to life, and get it to grab hold of her chest again. When she
finally realized her little one was dead, she sat beside it on the
roadway and w-a-i-l-e-d. Crying out in loud mourning sounds, the
monkeys around her, high in the trees, joined her in her grief, they
wailed and moaned with agonizing sounds.
They cared.
They remained with the grieving mother
monkey.
They mourned with her.
So tonight, as sleep slipped away.
Counting sheep did no good, monkeys kept getting in the way.
Pondering..., rock throwing monkeys,
wailing monkeys, and killing monkeys, i prayed.
It's just always the best response.
What are we to do in a world where
rocks are thrown --- not just by monkeys, but by people too?
Just on the other side of the wall from
the monkeys in the trees, children were throwing rocks at the
monkeys, who were then turning and throwing rocks at me. They were
only giving out what was being dealt to them. And it's likely it was
all just a game to them. But, rocks can hurt, they are not little
acorns.
We people do the same things don't we?
We take on hurts inflicted by others, and if we are not intentional
with our hearts and minds, we end up turning and tossing hurts onto
those around us. It's not playful, it's painful.
Today i sat with a lady who has been
wounded often. And in her pain, she must be careful to not deliver to
others what has been handed to her. How? How could she keep from
doing that very thing? Because, we've got a place to put our pains,
it's best left at the foot of the Cross. We don't have to pick up
rocks and throw them at others. We are not made to act like monkeys,
we were created in the image of our Abba. He knew in this world we
would have trouble... He tells us not to be afraid when trouble
comes... to remember that He has overcome it... He did that at the
Cross. It's where all our “rocks” should be laid down. We forget
sometimes. We all forget sometimes, even those who might act like
they don't --- they do. But, it's good to pause and remember. The
hurts that come to us in this broken world, have a place to rest, we
need to lay them down. Monkeys and children throw rocks... we grown
ups know better.
Then there's the two monkeys, both
holding a dead infant in their hands (baby monkeys are technically
called infants).
One grieved over the death;
the other caused the death.
One wailed with companion monkeys who
cared deeply.
The murdering monkey was surrounded by
others who made not response to stop the murder or violence.
And i'm reminded, it really matters who
we surround ourselves with.
Who lives up close to us?
We are called to love everyone ---
that's a hard calling when there are rock-throwers.
But, being called to love our enemies
does not mean we have to let the pain-inflicters live up close and
personal in our lives.
We must hold ourselves apart from those
who deal in the ways of “death”. Whether it's death of body or
mind or spirit or heart. We must choose carefully who we “do life”
with.
The killer monkey was surrounded by
other monkeys who were numbed to the violence and pain. To them, it
was normal, likely an everyday occurrence. They thought little of it.
They knew nothing else.
But the wailing mother monkey, she was
surrounded by others who cared for her and her lose. She did not
mourn alone.
As i spoke with a the lady today, she
needed to be reminded, that her response to others reflects her
choosing of which kind of person she is. A rock-thrower? A person who
is numb to pain and lacking the heart to care for others? Or a person
who cares deeply, grieves with, and stays near by to the
broken-hearted?
In this place, as in many places around
the world, there is so much pain. Rocks come... pickis hit and
kill... brutality erupts... innocence is attacked.
Not one person will escape this
spinning ball without suffering some sort of pain. How we respond to
that very pain either equips us to love others through theirs or it
numbs us from even noticing their wounds.
People are not monkeys -----
Monkeys can't help acting like the
small brained mammals they are.
But people --- we were made with the
capacity to do good --- always ---- we have it within us to do the
good that is so desperately needed in this world.
The fruits of the Spirit are --- love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control.
We people, made in the image of the
Creator , these good fruits, can flow through us. The world needs
them to flow through us. No matter how the world around us acts ---
whether monkeys or people, we are called to
put our rocks where they belong,
choose carefully who we do life with
so we are better able to do it right
--- even towards the ones who are busy
throwing rocks.
Psalms 37 ------ says it so well...
Psalms 37 ------ says it so well...
"Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and
Trust him, and
he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
Soon the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.
and will live in peace and prosperity.
The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
they snarl at them in defiance.
But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
and their bows will be broken.
It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
than to be evil and rich.
For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the Lord takes care of the godly.
but the Lord takes care of the godly.
Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
even in famine they will have more than enough.
But the wicked will die.
The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
but the godly are generous givers.
Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.
but those he curses will die.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
and their children are a blessing.
Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
and you will live in the land forever.
For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
but the children of the wicked will die.
The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.
and will live there forever.
The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
they teach right from wrong.
They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.
so they will never slip from his path.
The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
looking for an excuse to kill them.
looking for an excuse to kill them.
But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.
they have no future.
The Lord rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they
find shelter in him." (NLT)
©2015 Donna Taylor Reaching for the Robe