The Zoo, The Mundane, and Advent 2015

Hubby's company organised a family day event at Taiping Zoo last Saturday.

Armed with an adventurous zeal that braved the scorching sun, funky smells, and predictable public toilets (at least on my part) for Sophie's enrichment's sake - we decided to join in.

The sun was scorching hot. The zoo smelled of the animals' BO, manure, and other organic things. The public toilets were... as predicted. There were people everywhere - Ben's colleagues and their families. I wasn't too comfortable with having to greet people at every corner. And Sophie was cranky because we had scooped her out from bed unusually early that morning, nap time wasn't anytime soon, and she wasn't too happy about having to sit in her stroller while we walked through the length and breadth of Taiping Zoo. We did allow her to get out of her stroller once in a while, but the toddler hazards of the walkway conditions (uneven and bumpy tar roads, broken pavements, etc. - Malaysian tourism really needs to work on this, I think) and Sophie's secret plans to abandon us whenever we let our guards down made her stroller curfew rather necessary. Even so, hubs and I were soooo exhausted at the end of our trip that I've made up my mind to avoid zoos at all costs for at least a year. But who knows, right? When the adventurous zeal returns, we might be back all too soon. After all, I would love to take Sophie on a boat-ride at the Taiping Lake Gardens.

Still... I think that Sophie did enjoy being with us as much as we enjoyed being with her.

The giraffe that watched Sophie (and her muesli) with great interest for a while... till the zoo keeper brought its lunch.

Throughout our trip, I couldn't help wondering what it must feel like being one of the animals in the zoo. While I, being a high-maintenance urban dweller with posh tastes and a preference for inorganic, sterile environments (sounds sad), instinctively pitied the animals in their restrictive pens within a hot, funky-smelling zoo - there must be so much more to their kind of life than meets our senses. Thinking of it, can you imagine spending your life in a small, cramped, artificial version of your natural habitat - with zero privacy, few opportunities to run about freely or learn, and no hope of seeing your loved ones again? What happens to the animals when they aren't cute to look at anymore or old? What happens to the animals that eat trash thrown into their cages by insensitive zoo-goers who are more interested in circus shows than the welfare of the animals?

Food for thought.

I'm so sorry if I offend the zoo lovers. I believe you who are pro-zoos have your own good reasons to support zoos and you are welcome to do so. Even I am thankful for the opportunities that zoos have afforded us, visual learners, to get to know wild animals and love nature, especially when we were children.

It's just that.... the sight of huge animals pacing back and forth in their pens, no longer seeking a way out of the mundane, humdrum way of things simply because there was no way out, made me rather emotional.  

"Take me home... please?"

But zoos will continue to exist. With my daughter, I hope that I will be able to do my part (no matter how minuscule) in making the captivity of these beautiful creatures count. I don't only want her zoo experiences to entertain and wow her momentarily but to cultivate a love and concern for God's creations. To inspire her to be a responsible student, steward, and advocate of Earth's divine masterpieces.

Speaking of the mundane... and in light of our waiting on the Lord amidst our various trials...

I will end this increasingly emotional post (at least for me) with a short reflection on the season of Advent (which began on Sunday) that I wrote for a devotional:

"Matthew 1:1-17 – A Child Born in God’s Perfect Time

We begin our Advent reflections with Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus - three major divisions, each listing fourteen generations of human roots. It is interesting that the lists found in Matthew 1:1-17 don’t match those in Luke 3:23-38. Considering that Matthew’s gospel was written from a Jewish viewpoint for a Jewish audience who were familiar with Old Testament prophecy, many contend that Matthew’s unique genealogy must have served as a literary device to portray who Jesus, son of Joseph, was. Abraham’s journey of faith pointed to Jesus – the promised Saviour for all who believe. The line of David, who was the central kingly figure of the Old Testament, pointed to Jesus – the promised Messiah King. The five women honoured amongst Jesus’ ancestors were paragons of faith, if not virtue, ethnicity, or social rank; they point us to the requirement of entering Jesus’ gracious Kingdom. Yet, also significant in the genealogy is the mention of Jeconiah (vv.11-12) who was one of the last kings of the Davidic dynasty. As a result of his sins, Jeconiah’s male descendants had been disqualified from inheriting David’s throne (Jer 22:24-30). Matthew then could have also been implying this: had Jesus been the biological son of Joseph, He too would have been disqualified, and so He wasn’t. The story of Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit immediately following the genealogy highlights the necessity of Jesus being the divine Immanuel (meaning “God with man”) as well as human. God was made flesh in order to reclaim what Abraham’s descendants had lost through disobedience – and ultimately their potential to bring salvation to all nations. The Jews needed Jesus. We need Jesus.

During the next four weeks of Advent, we will anticipate Jesus’ second coming in light of His first coming as Imannuel. God was with us in the fullness of His time; God is with us today as we observe the holiness of the season in our daily lives; and God will be with us at the end of time. Blessed Advent!

Prayer:

Advent God, as we journey with You through the season, refresh the portrait of the Messiah King that is in our minds so that we may wait on Him with even greater joy, hope and expectation. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen."