The Rescuers Quilt
As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the animals that
had gone there before me.
Before each of us go to the Bridge, we live
our lives like the squares of a quilt, mirrored in the eyes
of the animals awaiting us. An animal Angel sits before each
of us sewing our quilt squares together in a tapestry that
is our life. But as my animal Angel took each piece of cloth
off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares
was.
They were filled with giant holes. Each square
was labeled with a part of my life as a rescuer that had been
difficult, the challenges I was faced with in my quest to
save lives and the times I had been tempted to take the easy
way out and avoid the controversy rather than speak for the
animals that could not speak for themselves.
I saw hardships that I had endured for the
sake of the animals, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than
a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled
with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I
gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My animal Angel
was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare
and empty, like binding air.
Finally, the time came when each life was
to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.
The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.
So filled their lives had been with the riches of the Earth.
My animal Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the
earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter and
the sweet kisses of the precious animals that Honored my life
with their presence. But there had also been the trials of
illness, and death, and false accusations that took me from
their world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times.
I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow
muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many
nights crying and praying that somehow the strength would
come to go on, asking for help and guidance as I tried to
help the Helpless. I had often been held up to ridicule, which
I endured painfully, each time enduring it for the sake of
the animals who looked at me with trust and love in their
eyes.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life
was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I
rose and slowly lifted the combined Squares of my life to
the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around
at the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wide
eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me.
Light flooded the many holes, creating an
image of an animal that had depended on me. All the animals
at the Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their
eyes. They said, "Every time you gave over your life
to help us, it gave us life. Each point of light in your life
is when you stepped aside and let us shine through, until
there was more of us than there was of you."
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn,
allowing the animals to shine through. ~unknown |
