The Lion and the Lamb

 "Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals." Genesis 2: 19, 20

    A crisp, sunny morning beckoned my walk to the marsh. Before leaving my yard, a cardinal heralded my presence from his perch in the oak above. I paused to see this scarlet singer, marveling at the pure sound of his praise.

    Farther along, the lament of a mourning dove slowed my step out of respect. 

    Along the serpentine stretch of road leading to the lagoons, a wary mother goose eyed me from her nest, likely wondering if I were friend or foe. I reassured her that, as a mom myself, I understood her caution.

    Encouraged by the sweet aroma of a honeysuckle vine, a paused to drink it in while the sharp caw of the red-winged blackbird bid me go. 

    'Twasn't long before I felt the staring amber eye of a grey heron, watching me from his stalwart position on the bank. His prehistoric silhouette frightened me a little, I admit.

    At water's edge, a wee white butterfly sipped her morning brew from a wildflower as the flurry of a nervous cottontail bunny diverted my attention. How I wished he wouldn't fear me.

    Over my head, the chattering industrious purple martins were bustling about their business of raising their families within the curious white gourds they called home. I imagined the mothers discussing the antics of their children or the housecleaning they needed to do.

    Regretfully, it was time to head to my home. My trek of treasures was punctuated by one last lovely sight: the domed home of a turtle was spotted, its owner stretching his neck to my Creator and his, as he gratefully accepted God's gift of sun and water. 

    As I walked, I pondered Adam's task of giving names to all of these creatures. Perhaps, prior to the curse which sin brought, these were not fearful of man. Perhaps it will be that way once again when we, who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, will dwell in the paradise of the new heaven and the new earth. The fear of evil will have been abolished; peace will have been restored.

    It's curious to me that Jesus is referred to as both a Lion and a Lamb, for only in Him, will all things wild and tame be married peaceably. What a day that will be!

    "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them." Isaiah 11:6