"The Meerkat Church"

“The Meerkat Church”

 

When traveling to new places Karen and I like to go to zoos and aquariums (at last count we’ve been to about 15). Each one has its own features which make our experiences uniquely enjoyable. As we walk around and observe we marvel at the variety of God’s creative power and echo the words of Nehemiah: “You alone are the Lord. You made…the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything….” (9:6).

While living in South Carolina we joined the Riverbanks Zoo Society. One of the perks of membership was unlimited admissions, so if we had an hour or two to spare we’d stop by and see what was new since our last visit. Sometimes it was a baby (we especially remember a newborn baboon), added feature (a kangaroo habitat through which we could walk), or new resident (a male gorilla). But among our favorites were the meerkats. (The only other place we remember seeing them is Busch Gardens in Tampa.) They’re small mammals (adults weigh up to 5 ½ pounds) native to desert regions of southwestern Africa which look something like prairie dogs but are part of the mongoose family. They live in groups of 20-50 in complex tunnel systems which provide protection from predators. They have two particularly interesting innate traits. The first is a rotating sentry system in which one stands guard and sounds a warning of danger so they can go into the tunnels for safety. The second is a “babysitting” arrangement to care for the young of the group (also called a mob, gang, or clan). As we observed them we were captivated by how God made them in such a one-of-a-kind fashion.

How special would it be if we as God’s people practiced by choice what meerkats do by instinct! Jesus’ friend and apostle warns us to “…be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion….” (1 Peter 5:8, NASV). As we’re on guard to the dangers around us we can sound a warning to our fellow believers as Paul did in Ephesus (see Acts 20:31). And the strong are commanded to assist those who are new in faith (see Romans 15:1-2)—in other words, be their caregivers so they can grow strong.

As the Body of Christ we’re all interconnected and need each other (“…In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”—Romans 12:5). So let’s each do our part to produce “The Meerkat Church”.

 

Grace and blessings!

Jim McMillan