Wild Kingdom!

One of my favorite shows growing up was Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins and his trusty sidekick. The sidekick was always with Marlin as they explored the animals of wild in their natural habitat (just with a camera out of site of the animals). I remember watching several shows that featured prairie dogs. Man they were cute. Who doesn't love a cute prairie dog. Often the prairie dogs would be pictured going about their work, doing what prairie dogs do. Their big eyes would roam the countryside looking for food and sparkle with excitement as they played with one another. The momma prairie dog would always be on the watch for predators. Her head would pop up fast and look around for seemingly hours upon end. Most of the time she was successful. Sometimes, though, when maybe one of her tribe scampered off on their own, the predator would strike. Quick, coldly, efficiently. The predator would strike with lethal force and drag its dinner back to the house. The prairie dog who left the pack met its fate quickly and violently. This dog did not stick close to the tribe. It didn't have a watchdog. Someone watching its back, looking out for its best interests, advising when danger was around. It was isolated, separated from the pack, it was easy picking for the predator. And usually met a grisly death at the hand of a wily predator.

Ecclesiastes talks about the problem of isolation. In Chapter 4, verse 12, the writer says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" In Chapter 4 Solomon writes about the danger of isolation. Often times when we are isolated we have a tendency to be easy prey for the predator. Just like the prairie dog who leaves the pack and straggles behind, we give an opening for the predator when we are isolated. Beware, the predator is always about. In 1 Peter 5:8 he says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Easy picking is the one who is straggling outside the pack, thinking we can do this all on our own. Be on the alert.

Now, I don't think nor want to say that there are times when being isolated is not a good thing. I am talking more about staying in touch with people. Better yet, seeking out someone who is isolated and encouraging them. Reaching out to them. Showing, not just telling, that they mean something, they have value, they can get out of where they are, ...or just to listen to what they have on their mind. We need to be the momma prairie dog with her ears perked up, saying to her brood, WATCH OUT!!! Stay CLOSE!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Perhaps you know someone that through life's struggles has become isolated or is becoming isolated. You have a chance to alert them to the predator. You have an opportunity to reach out to them. We just need to cast aside our pride, insecurity, and worrying about what people will think and just be real and urgent. Maybe you are reading this and you have drawn away from people or are drawing away from people. Maybe you think that nobody cares what you think, how you feel, that they are mad at you, or don't want to hear from you. I am hear to tell you that that is a lie born from the pits of hell itself. We are relational spiritual beings encased in a fleshly shell. We naturally want to be connected, cared about, care about others, know why we are here.

Today, don't be like the prairie dog who is straggling behind. Be the momma prairie dog and reach out to someone. Someone needs you. Someone is waiting for you to be that one who saves them from the predator. Don't just be like the camera man on Wild Kingdom, be the sidekick who gets in there amidst the danger and interacts with animals.

I am thankful for you.