The Lions, the Deer and the Blackbirds

Three young male lions have arrived at Africa Alive, our local wildlife park. On Tuesday Bertie, Will and Mak travelled 140 miles from Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.

Zoo director Ross Snipp said: ‘You don’t get to do this every day so these moments are sort of career highlights. I’ve been as excited today as everyone else to see this and we can’t wait for our guests to come and visit them.’

Whilst the lions were arriving at Kessingland, twenty-seven miles away in Norwich, a muntjac deer, visiting Marks & Spencer, got herself stuck between a glass barrier and the ground-floor escalator.

The M&S staff kept the deer calm, closed the store entrance and called Hillside Animal Sanctuary who released her. The deer, which has been named Lucy, is now recovering at one of the sanctuary’s sites.

We’ve enjoyed watching the baby blackbirds in our garden this week. They wait on the grass or on the apple tree branch for their blackbird parents. Food is regularly delivered, beak to beak, on demand. Judging by the size, activity and alertness of the babies, the parents are doing a good job.

Bertie, Will and Mak are settling in; they’ll become local celebrities. Lucy’s become famous for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting stuck. Nameless fame-less baby blackbirds are being looked after by ordinary blackbird parents doing their job well.

I’m reading about Job. God says to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity…’

He’s noted not because he’s a celebrity, nor because he’s had an unusual adventure, but because he’s doing a good job of being Job – a servant, blameless, upright, retaining his integrity.

Much as I like the lions and the deer my prayer this morning is that I shall be like the parent blackbirds and Job, not pushing to be noticed, serving those in need, living with integrity.