I recently spent the weekend in the Kafue National Park in Zambia with a group visiting from Canada. The Mukambi Safari Lodge where we stayed is on the banks of the Kafue River. In addition to the beauty of the river, the lodge vast amounts of unspoiled wilderness surround the lodge. It truly is a place where one can unwind and enjoy the beauty of Zambia.
Because the lodge is located in the midst of the national park, the local wildlife roams freely about the premises. I was told upon arriving that in the morning a large male lion was spotted nearby. Birds are abundant, making their home in the many plants and trees that landscape the lodge and there are also a variety of lizards that crawl about the poolside and pathways.
In addition to the other wildlife, the lodge has a frequent visitor by the name of Basil, a teenage male hippopotamus.
Basil makes his home in the Kafue River but for years has come up to lodge to graze or rest in the shade. On the Sunday afternoon while I was sitting by the pool relaxing before our departure back to Lusaka, some of the Canadian guests who were resting in the lounge came out to the poolside. They told me they were asked to leave the lounge because Basil had decided to come into the lounge for his afternoon nap. The visitors were told it was for their safety as Basil is a wild animal, though his actions make him appear to be domesticated.
Furniture was used to barricade the area to prevent guests from disturbing Basil from his rest. Like most of us, he can be pretty cranky when woken up from his sleep. (See photo of Basil)
As I thought about the events of the day it dawned on me how important it is to respect people – and other creatures for that matter – who come into our midst, how at times we need to make room, move things around or adjust our schedules. The lodge management was wise in asking our visitors to leave, as they needed to give Basil his space. Rearranging furniture was also a good idea as it was in the best interest of both Basil and the guests.
This I believe is also true when God comes into our life. We may need to make room for Him if we expect Him to come in and enjoy His stay. We may need to rearrange priorities if we want to make Him feel at home.
Like Basil, God is always looking for a comfortable place, a welcoming place. However, when He shows up we need to take notice if we want to enjoy His presence. We were all able to enjoy Basil because he was given his space; he felt safe and welcomed there. The same goes with God; if we make room for Him in our lives we can enjoy His presence, calm, peace and grace. It our responsibility to make Him feel welcome.
As I reflected on the action of the lodge staff, I saw great wisdom in their action. They protected the guests but also ensured Basil also felt welcome. In light of this, I began reflecting on the work we do at Villages of Hope. I believe part of our holistic approach to care involves helping the VOH children make a place for God in their hearts so they may enjoy Him.
Children are all too often given the wrong impression of God. They are taught to fear Him, as someone who is out to punish them for every wrongdoing. God’s word is all too often used to manipulate behavior. However if children could learn a healthy respect for God, as we had for Basil, they could then enjoy Him for who He is “the Father of the Fatherless.” (NASB, Psalm 38:5)
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Twitter: @voh_africa
What a great story! Thanks Sergio for sharing!