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The Bridge
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 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 a while 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."
*Author Unknown* |