A story is told about a polar bear in the Bronx Zoo in New York that began to decline. He lost interest in his food, and no longer cared to take a swim in the pool. He gradually refrained from coming out of his enclosure, and was seldom seen. The veterinarian found no illness or disability, but the bear was losing weight and in danger of serious illness or death if nothing was done.

Eventually one of the keepers thought he would try to rouse the bear by hiding his food in various locations around his habitat. To just about everyone’s surprise, it worked. The bear began to “hunt”, and pounce on his food, and displayed a healthy appetite to devour it. Everyone was relieved and marveled at such a simple solution. The bear had been simply bored without challenge or motivation, and the cure lasted.

When I hunt in the scriptures for a word from the Lord that speaks to my need, it revives my spirit, and I shake off my lethargy and remember my connection to a holy God: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3)

Life in the zoo was perfectly suited to the bear for meeting his physical needs, but the deepest character of the bear was as a predator, a hunter; the zoo didn’t touch that reality until one keeper recognized the problem.

Each of us drifts away from our connection to our real character as Christians from time to time. Often God supplies a “keeper” to remind us of our deepest need in Him, but some times He waits for us to remember our roots, and turn to scripture again. Our spirits need to eat and drink at His Word. It’s all too easy to drift away, but if we listen we’ll hear a call to return. It may be a nagging discontent or an over-heard phrase or expression. It may be the loss of a good friend, or a surprise blessing. Our “keeper” never sleeps, and He looks for those who are awake to Him.

Love in Him,

Prue