Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this
day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be
imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as
they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals
who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was
going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge
to watch.
It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view,
head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had
been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they
had seen this happen far too often. He approached slowly, obviously
in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness.
Unlike
all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not
been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he
walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching
him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross
over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge,
his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but
told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who
were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.
With no place
else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before
The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly
and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green
grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge.
And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he
had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there
for awhile to explain it to him. "You see, that poor animal was a
rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older
animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it
out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort
him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to
give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge.
The
first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what
will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds
suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could
be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group
was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and
healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life. "Watch, and
see" said the second animal. A second group of animals from those
waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At
each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch
behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed
him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
"What
happened?"
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect
were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross
when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those
who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to
perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those
poor animals that they couldn't place on earth, across The Rainbow
Bridge. "
"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.
"So does
GOD", was the reply.
