Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”
Since my kids were little, at least age one and older, our family spent many hours and years at one zoo or another. In fact, my oldest is twenty-six now, and I can’t remember a year we didn’t make it to a zoo at least once. There may be a year or two we missed, but one thing I can say, our family enjoys the zoo.
Each zoo can offer something unique and different to experience, but the best experiences, aside from a child’s delight, are the animals. From the big bears, the lions, and the tigers, all the way to the small frogs and spiders. My favorites are tigers, giraffes, and zebras. No matter how many I see, I am always amazed by their distinct designs, as if a painter perfectly placed each stripe or spot.
Our favorite zoos are the ones where all the habitats are more natural habitats, like those found in nature. Lots of trees, rocks, dirt, and room. Most zoos have a petting farm where you can feed the goats, ostriches, emus, llamas, and more. Zoos are a wonderful place to see God’s creation in each animal. Uniquely designed and created, each with their own habits, living styles, and the ways they eat and interact with those around them. Some are playful with bystanders (especially monkeys), some ignore you completely, others just simply enjoying life.
Summer is usually when families visit the zoo the most, but last fall my husband and I were able to visit a zoo with our niece. Being fall, the weather is cooler and the animals definitely more active than the warmer days of summer. While there, I discovered some things we can learn when we take a walk on the wild side.
Be a sanctuary of wonder:
Our lives get busy with many things. Many things make us feel we’re on repeat, and we get stuck in a rut. When God created this world, He meant for life to be full of wonder that brings us joy. Yes, we must live day-to-day, but in those hours, we can still build a sanctuary where we can explore, learn, and build something meaningful to us. As we enjoy the animals in the zoo, let’s take time to observe God’s creation around us. Let God inspire us and get us out of the day-to-day mundane rut.
Feed your curiosity:
Have you ever observed animals at feeding time? There are even some places that let you feed some of the animals. Oh, they will quickly gobble up what you have in your hand, and it’s their curiosity and desire for food that keeps them coming back for more. They eagerly look forward to visits just to get more food. Jesus has said He is the Bread of Life, and we can be satisfied when we search the scriptures. In God’s Word, our curiosity will be filled. But, like the animals who eagerly eat the food, we need to be intentionally and actively spending time in scripture with the desire to learn.
Listen with delight:
A lion’s roar, wolves howling, peacocks screeching, mockingbirds mocking, even monkeys chattering. Along with the delightful squeals and laughter of children, the animals provide quite a chorus to enjoy. Zoos easily bring a smile to most faces and fill us with joy. Jesus, too, will bring delight to our souls when we take time to simply be still and listen. In those moments, our Lord wants to speak to us and share with us. Listen, you will find the joy you are seeking.
Care for others:
Have you ever watched those working at the zoo and thought it could be cool to be a zookeeper? They care deeply for the animals and show a lot of love and kindness when working with them. Some even take the time to share with you all about the animal, from age to habits to what makes them tick. We don’t necessarily have to know the ins and outs of everyone we know, but we certainly need to show care to everyone, even the hard-to-like ones. We are all part of God’s creation, and our acts of kindness will always show God’s light shining through us.
Love the world around you:
There’s a lot of work that goes into a zoo. From the paths we walk to each habitat, a well-kept zoo shows a well-loved zoo, and you usually will want to visit again and again. God showed great love in this world He created. With each flower, tree, fish, animal, and star placed in the sky, we see God’s love. So much has gone wrong in this world since creation, but we still can show love for what God has given us. We can take care of the things around us, keep our homes well-kept, and be people others enjoy coming back and visiting with.
Preserve your wild nature:
No, we don’t have to roar like the lions or beat our chests like the gorillas, but we also don’t have to fall into the ways of the world. Technology, TV, smartphones, or media. There is nothing wrong with finding a balance in your life; in fact, it’s necessary, and don’t forget to get out in nature. Take walks, go fishing, swimming, or even boating. Take time to preserve God’s creation by getting out of the city now and again. That is where you will find God the easiest.
Roar with excitement:
Are you happy to be a Christian, delighted that Jesus is your Savior? When the lions have something to say, the entire zoo can hear them. This should be you and me. We may not be as loud as a lion, but we can share the good news with those around us. Sing songs of Jesus and His love, praise the Lord for what He has done, show you are a Christian, and you are happy and delighted in Jesus.
One of the most important gifts God has given us is the ability to see He is alive and working in our world today – in His creation. What better place to see a great variety of God’s creation than a zoo? There, we can see the beauty of His creativity and His amazing love for us. Have you lost your spark? Have you settled for less than what God has intended for you? Maybe it’s time to venture out to a zoo and take a walk on the wild side, and let God renew your heart and soul with His wonderful creation. Have a zooriffic day!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on ConnectWithGodDaily
Featured Image by kow loon from Pixabay
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