Mystified 8
” I don’t know about mystified but I
am certainly blindsided by human consciousness," bleated BillyG, “According
to what was handed down through my kin, we were wild Bezoar ibexes until about
10,000 years ago, when we allowed ourselves to be domesticated." It
was a fateful decision but many of our youngsters were starving and like humans
of today, we were over-sexed and rutted our way into a crisis. To save our kids
we first accepted food from humans and then accepted shelter, too. We were
locked in because we agreed to have the predators locked out.”
“This is painful,” crooned Mira the
sloth, “because I was ignoring the whole mess. In our state of mind, we sloth
females just scream until a male finally shows up and 9 months later we just
have one baby sloth and don’t get the urge again for almost 2 years. Humans
appear to be glutinous, at best.”
“I don’t like to sound
prudish,” says Gary, the Bassett hound, "but sex probably is not the main
issue, but rather something else such as greed, speed or ego. Some damn
evolution architect made my legs so short it's downright embarrassing.”
Hummy intervened, " we are getting off track a bit.
Let's concentrate on the power of the Group and complete our circle with the full
complement of 24 animals."
Mum, the nanny goat bleated, " I am lost. Why don't
we have a plan or some protocol?
Hooie, the barn owl, hooted, "It is the wise move.
Once we form a circle and connect with each other we will be amazed before we
are half-way through."
Ducky, the Pekin duck quacked, " All you
fun-in-flying birds come on down and perch so we can get on with our circle
job. Humans may not be worth it but they are destroying the planet and can't
seem to find their way out of a paper bag. I need to get back to egg
laying."
So, Bertie, the peregrine falcon, Milvus, the
back kite, Fregata, the frigate bird gave up their fun and perched around the
circle. Free, the butterfly, Leda the dragonfly found branches in the circle
too.
Though they were a half dozen short each noted
privately that either anxiety or exhilaration was coursing through them. Those
who were less ego-driven began to feel exhilaration but it was all for the
good. Because, in the better angel’s scheme of things, exhilaration always
trumps anxiety.
The group formed as a leaderless bunch, egos
evaporated and a calm stillness settled over the group like the morning
dew.............and it was good.
One might easily be
mistaken by believing that humans invented group process. However, the White
Pelican forms groups to corrale fish into their group circle and devours them
without having to fly and dive. Through 30 million years these pelicans have mastered
this process without uttering a word. This knowledge of group process exceeds
the human tribal circle by at least 25 million years. It is a marvel to see
them in action. So, one of our group members, the facilitator, is a White
Pelican named Mary. And she has just flown in to join and
facilitate the group. It is noteworthy
that the pelican is revered throughout Christian history because of it causes
its breast to bleed and thus feed otherwise starving chicks.
