John 17:12-19
While I was with them, I kept them
safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them
was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what
the Scriptures say would come true.
I am on my way to you. But I
say these things while I am still in the world, so that my followers
will have the same complete joy that I do. I have told them your
message. But the people of this world hate them, because they don’t
belong to this world, just as I don’t.
Father, I don’t ask you to
take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil
one. They don’t belong to this world, and neither do I. Your word is the
truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. I am sending them
into the world, just as you sent me. I have given myself completely for
their sake, so that they may belong completely to the truth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On
March 1, 2015, giant panda cub Bao Bao was officially and completely
separated from her mother, Mei Xiang, at the Smithsonian National
Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. This weaning process actually began
several weeks earlier, as the two spent more and more time away from
each other, and Bao Bao began to munch on bamboo to supplement her
mother’s nursing. Now she is completely dependent on the cane for her
sustenance.
According to information found at
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/, "Giant pandas Mei Xiang
and Tian Tian are at the National Zoo under a Giant Panda Cooperative
Research and Breeding Agreement, signed in January 2011, between the Zoo
and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. This extends the Zoo’s
giant panda program through 2015. Mei and Tian are the focus of an
ambitious research, conservation, and breeding program designed to
preserve this endangered species." 18-month-old offspring Bao Bao will
remain at the National Zoo until she is four years old. While she would
naturally separate completely from her mother and no longer see her,
this is not possible at the National Zoo, and staff members there hope
that this will result in her observing the breeding cycle between her
parents – and better understanding what she is to do in the wild when
she is released in China.
In many ways, Bao Bao’s parents have
done all they can for her…and at the end of her fourth year, the
National Zoo officials will have to say the same thing. It will be time
for Bao Bao to take the lessons she has learned – all that has been
instilled in her and taught to her – and carry on alone. Every human
involved in her nurture and care hopes and believes that this will be a
successful venture. Will there be trepidation and worry? Certainly.
Will it be hard to let her go…a little nerve-wracking to trust that she
will be okay and remember all that she learned? Most definitely! But
it will still be the right thing to do…an act of tremendous love and
faith – in the effectiveness and endurance of lessons and care
demonstrated – and in Bao Bao’s steadfastness and faithfulness to what
has been given her.
Now think of Jesus and all that He has done
for us. Consider how He taught us…nurtured and cared for
us…demonstrated the right path – showed us how to serve God and honor
His laws. Jesus did all that He was supposed to do for us – and then
some. Jesus did all He could to keep us safe…and now He trusts that we
learned our lessons well and will be able to serve as His disciples.
Here’s
where we differ from the pandas and other “parents/offspring”…Jesus
does not separate from us completely. He does not desert us. When He
returned to Heaven, He left His Holy Spirit as “back-up”…should we
choose to invite Him into our hearts. So we always have our Heavenly
Father with us…He is only a heartbeat and a whisper away.
This
is GREAT NEWS! We don’t have to wonder and worry what to do – the Holy
Spirit is always with us to give us the answer! We don’t have to wander
aimlessly…suffer or grieve without comfort…or operate in confusion and
uncertainty. Our God is always available…His presence takes many shapes and forms…and all we have to do is recognize Him.
I
know that it will be a hard day at the National Zoo when Bao Bao is
packed off to China. I have a feeling that with some of us, it’s pretty
hard for Jesus to watch us bumble around and try to do “life” on our
own. Thankfully, we don’t have to live like this…He will draw near in a
split second and set our feet on the right path. It’s up to us to
issue the invitation for Him to do just that. Have you invited Jesus
and His Holy Spirit into your heart…and do you keep Him there? Isn’t it
time that you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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