You Are Mine

 " Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine." [Isaiah 43:1b]

Stepping into the dim interior through thick heavy doors, I took a deep breath and let the cool wash over my heated skin. The South American themed cave-like enclosure at the Jacksonville Zoo is one of my favorite places to visit. One might assume it's due to the structure's air conditioning, an AMAZING relief from Florida 115 degree summer days, but it's not the cool air that draws me in every time we take a spin through the zoo. Nor is it the mighty girth of  the beautifully colored Green Anaconda wrapped around the large tree trunk in his semi-aquatic habitat. And ... while the Caiman Lizard is one of my all time favorite subjects to capture with my camera, it's not his dopey smile that has me rushing by the vampire bats and skirting the lookers-on face to face with the poison dart frogs. No, it's the tiny little primates that have me leaning up against the glass, smiling like a kid in a candy shop. One of those little boogers and I, go way, way back. 

Pigmy Marmoset Image: Pet Assure.com

Long before the new South American exhibit became a reality at the ever-growing zoo, the tiny little Pigmy Marmoset monkeys were housed in a cozy, small wired enclosure, decked out with their favorite foliage and nesting materials. An almost hidden little gem in the middle of a winding path, one could get nearly nose to nose with these cute little critters as they played and chatted with one another. However, I made that mistake only once - when the little male looked me right in the eye, turned his little butt in my direction and sprayed urine with a force that I found utterly surprising - covering me in his unique flavor of chemical branding.

Gross. 

For the rest of the trip I smelled that little monster. My clothes were covered in Pigmy Marmoset pheromones. I guess in the animal world, I was marked. I now belonged to the cute little monkey with the adorable little face no bigger than a quarter. I can't say that this made me particularly proud - but if I had been a female monkey, I might have had a different perspective on the matter.

The Pigmy Marmoset is quite the little bundle of cute. So cute, that a whole bunch of people have adopted them as pets.

And people, aren't the only ones.

Image:  ©Jeanne Shirley

In June of 2004 a group of scientists trudged through the dense South American jungles on a mission to study a group of Capuchin monkeys. Pronounced - Kuh-poo-chin - the larger species of primates in the study group had been the subject of photographer Jeanne Shirley. She probably had no idea when she set out on that balmy summer day that she would witness a life-changing event. For the first time in human documented history a group of non-domesticated and otherwise non habituated primates in the wild, adopted an animal outside of their own species. Immerging from the undergrowth, a female Capuchin was seen carrying a Pigmy Marmoset, and proceeded to nurse her as if it were her own.

Incredible on so many levels, this cross-species adoption has so far been the only one documented by truly wild animals. Capuchin monkeys are omnivores and have even been known to kill and eat smaller mammals in the area. It is EXTREMELY rare for any primate to share food, much less share it with an animal that is not in their own troupe. And this behavior wasn't limited to the female carrying the tiny monkey on her back. The entire troupe of Capuchins accepted this little addition, even so far as the alpha male allowing it to "sneak" a few nibbles of his own food.

Image: ©Jeanne Shirley

That is some mighty powerful cute, right there. 

It's unclear WHY this female took it upon herself to pick up the tiny little guy. No one knows if the Marmoset had been abandoned, or stolen. And we're not sure if the Capuchin wanted a pet or a child, but whatever the motivation, the little Pigmy had been adopted, completely. 

Myself, being an adoptee - this article from the American Journal of Primatology simply captivates me. It shows incredible heart, sharing, nurturing, and needs being met - both physical and emotional. 

Very much like our complete adoption by our Lord and Savior. 

In Isaiah 43, we are reminded that we have been completely and utterly adopted. Redeemed by no-holds-barred grace. We've been called by name - and given NEW life.

Like the tiny little Pigmy Marmoset - all we have to do is cling to our Savior.

Hash-tag Discord

"Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall."  [Luke 11:17 NIV]

In the brilliant heat of a Virginia August, Steven and I climbed the steps to the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. Immediately hit with the contrast of deep dark woods, shiny brass fixtures and thick, embossed wall-paper, I was drawn to the steadiness, strength, and grace of the place. Built in the 1700's, it would be interesting to have a time-lapse view of the years through which that majestic structure stood. 

Revolution, Civil War, The Age of Industry, and the birth and growth of a fledgling idea in government have all been witnessed by this incredible home. It really would be spell-binding if those walls could talk. The Governor'sPalace has witnessed some of our worst AND some of our most fierce growing pains right along with some of our finest moments as a brand new nation.

Image: Govenor's Palace © vagazette.com

Since the walls weren't willing to dish, the tour guide provided us with some of the amazing history of the physical structure and a few details of the personal lives that once lived there-in. And though it was 24 years ago, I'll never forget what he said. He mentioned the discord between Benjamin Franklin, and his son, William. [yes, I fell asleep a lot in history class so this news seemed new to me. Sorry, Uncle Bill Hyde, aka, my high school history teacher.] Discussing the surprising number of families that were split apart by either standing with the Patriots - driving for American Independence from Britain, or siding with the Loyalists - who felt the sting of betrayal on behalf of the British royal monarchy and wanted things left just the way they were. Our guide then went on to describe a not-quite-famous woman by the name of Debbi Read. The would-be wife of Franklin was never able to legally marry him due to some pretty sticky circumstances on her side, but they were socially accepted as man and wife through common law and Deborah became the step-mother to one, often cantankerous, William Franklin.

And what a job that would have been! Ben and his son Bill DID NOT, by any means, see eye to eye when it came to the political climate of the day. Benjamin saw and believed in the potential for independence from the crown accross the pond, while William on the other hand? mmmmm .... not so much. 

Ben Franklin: Joseph Duplessis cir 1752

That savy old phrase "happy wife, happy life" must be universally accepted as gospel truth because it was at this moment that our tour guide asked the group if we had any questions and my hand shot up [as if I were STILL in Uncle Bill's history class] as I asked: "what in the world was the dinner table like in this house?'  A few chuckles erupted around the room but the tour guide looked me dead in the eye and said: "excellent question".

Really? I was just being a smart mouth.

After adjusting his position from the window sill Mr. Palace Tour Guide let me in on a little Franklin family secret - the would be Mrs. Franklin was a fire cracker and most definitely ruled the roost. She informed her husband and her son that they were to check their politics at the door. There would be no political fist-a-cuffs at the family dinner table.   

I couldn't help the wide smile that spread across my lips. [Go Debbi!] And honestly, I can totally relate. 

Watching my country slowly tear itself apart decade by decade as what amounts to what I have personally dubbed "the cold civil war" drags on and on while two radically different political parties try to rip each other's throats out, my heart aches. Is it really so terrible to sit down and talk things out? To see the potential benefit of combining the best ideas from both parties into a stronger healthier nation? Can we just, please stop screaming at each other for five minutes?

William Franklin: Mather Brown cir 1790

Alas, much like Ben and Bill, there is way too much stubborn pride for either party to shut up and listen. And while the donkeys and the elephants do horrible, shady things to one another the peons that actually pay for all of this discord get forgotten. It's not happening for the benefit of We, The People. It's happening because - hate, power, money, and greed. 

People. It's not that hard. Agree to disagree and drop it. And it would be great if y'all could start worrying about healing a post-COVID broken people and national economy instead of spending all that money on trying to dish out the most dirt on the people that have a different opinion than the one you're totin' around.

I liken it to the baby born with it's umbilical cord wrapped around it's neck. If action isn't taken quickly, the infant will asphyxiate. 

My baby brother and I DO NOT see eye to eye when it comes to the political climate today. But he doesn't do everything he can to discredit me, call me names, nor does he refuse to let me speak my mind. We check our politics at the door when we gather for family stuff. [unless we're pokin' light hearted fun at one another]. And while I don't agree with his views, I still respect them and take them seriously. David isn't stupid for thinking the way he does. He's not my nemesis [unless I choose to make him one.] We can still hang out and laugh. I will certainly always love him.

It breaks my heart to think that a state or two in this once seemingly united field of them want to pull out from the union. It makes my stomach hurt when I think of the surprising number of people that want to kick a state or two out of the "club". Has it really come to this?

Let us get together and figure out how to fix the healthcare nightmare, the social security crisis, and the schools off to which we shuffle our children. Doesn't that make more sense?

Sigh. I guess it's true what Uncle Bill said all those years ago in history class. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and pay attention to history - is, indeed, doomed to repeat it.