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The Rescue Rainbow
Bridge
Unlike most days at Rainbow
Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as
could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think,
as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals
who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was
going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to
watch.
It wasn't long before an
elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The
other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his
story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly,
obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or
illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this
animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous
again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other
animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he
could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached
The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who
apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those
animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With
no place else to turn to, the
elderly animal turned towards the fields before The
Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and
infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green
grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And
so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at
The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of
the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor
animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now,
an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He
never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his
rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had
no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The
Bridge."
The first animal thought about
this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"
As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and
the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person
and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a
golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they
were in the prime of life.
"Watch, and see.",
said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting
came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed
head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears.
The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The
Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer. The
animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because
of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you
saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives,
they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed
to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across
The Rainbow Bridge."
"I think I like
rescuer's", said the first animal.
"So does
GOD", was the reply. |
