Prayer to the Giraffe God
Whoever thinks humans are the pinnacle of creation has not looked long at giraffes.
"Giraffes need only about three hours of sleep daily. They are the tallest creatures in the world. Their legs are six feet tall and yet they can bend down to drink from a pond. Shamans have surmised that when these creatures kneel, they are really meditating or praying. Some tribes perform a Giraffe Dance which is believed to be curative."
"Indigenous people, on the other hand, have great respect for them. They love the great variety in their fur patterns — no two are alike. They marvel at the fact that although giraffes have tongues that stretch 20 inches, they don't make many sounds and are silent most of the time."
Thus write Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in their review of the documentary, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. After reading their review and watching the trailer below -- a prayer arrives from somewhere deep: a placeless place known by indigenous peoples and probably by giraffes, too.
I pray to the Giraffe God that human beings will come to see ourselves as creatures among creatures on a small but beautiful planet, home to so many brilliant forms of life. I pray that will understand ourselves not merely as stewards or caretakers, but as disciples and acolytes, mentored by the wisdom of other animals and the more-than-human world. I pray that we will find the humility to say: "Welcome fellow traveller; come, let us learn from you." Only then will we be worthy of the love into which we are called.
-- Jay McDaniel
"Giraffes need only about three hours of sleep daily. They are the tallest creatures in the world. Their legs are six feet tall and yet they can bend down to drink from a pond. Shamans have surmised that when these creatures kneel, they are really meditating or praying. Some tribes perform a Giraffe Dance which is believed to be curative."
"Indigenous people, on the other hand, have great respect for them. They love the great variety in their fur patterns — no two are alike. They marvel at the fact that although giraffes have tongues that stretch 20 inches, they don't make many sounds and are silent most of the time."
Thus write Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in their review of the documentary, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. After reading their review and watching the trailer below -- a prayer arrives from somewhere deep: a placeless place known by indigenous peoples and probably by giraffes, too.
I pray to the Giraffe God that human beings will come to see ourselves as creatures among creatures on a small but beautiful planet, home to so many brilliant forms of life. I pray that will understand ourselves not merely as stewards or caretakers, but as disciples and acolytes, mentored by the wisdom of other animals and the more-than-human world. I pray that we will find the humility to say: "Welcome fellow traveller; come, let us learn from you." Only then will we be worthy of the love into which we are called.
-- Jay McDaniel
