Stripes...

It was so sad to watch. I had missed most of the program but when I saw the final fifteen minutes of it, my heart was breaking. Our son, Micah, had turned on a public television station (KET) and was watching a program about wildlife. It featured a herd of zebras during a drought season. As a horse lover, this was close enough for me to gain interest rather quickly. As hard as it was to see these beautiful animals searching for water, it was even more difficult to see what happened in the remaining minutes of the program.

Somehow, a foal had become separated from the herd and was doing all he could to survive alone. It was obvious he would not last long under the extreme conditions. He was tired. He was frightened. He was hungry. He was lost. Somehow, his black and white stripes had become covered in a major coat of dirt. His back and sides looked solid black and with no water available, the dirt wasn’t going to be removed anytime soon. When the herd finally came closer, he ran to them hoping he could join their group as they struggled to find water and survive. What I observed at this point was unimaginable. Because his stripes were covered in so much dirt, the herd did not recognize him as one of their own. He tried every sound he could make to convince them that he was a part of them, but they only saw the dirt…and not his true identity or his place with them. As he tried to mingle, they literally turned their backs on him and rejected him. He was not welcome in their circle. He was alone….again…unrecognizable by those just like him. It was obvious his life was in jeopardy and he had little time left in such lonesome and hopeless, abandoned circumstances.

Thankfully, a storm soon began to move into the region. The herd began galloping toward the dark clouds just minutes away. Although the lonely young zebra was not welcome to travel with them, he followed them from a distance. As the rain began to steadily fall, the little foal’s dirt was gradually released and his true identity was revealed. His black and white coat had been cleaned and he now looked just like the rest of the herd. It was only at this point, that he was allowed to join them once more.

At first, I felt that this was so cruel of the animals. His cries to the herd before the rain made it so clear that he was one of them. But the animals based their abandonment on his appearance…not his vocal cries. They didn’t listen to what he was trying to communicate with them. They dismissed him because he looked different. How could animals do this to one of their own?

Then I remembered…. This applies to us on so many levels. In society, we often judge one another on appearance, don’t we? Either they are “one of us” based on our ideas of normal…normal size, color, clothing styles, incomes, family names, social circles…or they don’t belong. How sad and unfair! But I thought a bit more about what I had seen…and realized it applied even closer to home. Sometimes this happens in our own Christian circles. Someone may wish to visit our Church…but they “look different.” Perhaps someone wants to get involved…but they are “too dirty.” Their “stripes” don’t shine like we think ours do. Or someone is already within our Church family…but they are covered with something that we don’t like to see…pain, heartache, grief, silent suffering, a life story that makes us uncomfortable…and we try to keep them at a distance. We just don’t want to get too close to someone who is less “clean” than we see ourselves.

As I continued watching the program and saw the power of the steady, refreshing and cleansing rain for that abandoned foal…I saw freedom enter his life. Not only did he “belong” but now he was washed clean! He was the beautiful creature God had created and now his purpose, his place and his path were made very clear to himself…and to those around him. Aren’t we like that? Others may reject us, abandon us or keep their distance from us because we are different…somehow. But the story doesn’t end there, thankfully. Because of the amazing love, mercy and grace of God, His sacrifice for us…and the power He has to cleanse us from all that has covered us in shame and bondage…we can be renewed…redirected and reminded of His purpose, plan and place He has for our lives. His stripes have made us clean! Thank You, God, for taking care of that precious little zebra. And thank You, God, for loving us, taking care of us and cleansing our lives to make us more like You.♥~thl