RESCUE AT RAINBOW BRIDGE
Unlike most of the sun filled
days at the Rainbow Bridge, this particular day dawned cold and gray, damp as a
swamp and as dismal as any day could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had
no idea what to think as they had never ever experienced a day like this before.
But the animals who 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 was not long before an elderly animal came into view, his head hung low, so
very low, and his 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, far, too often. He approached slowly, very slowly, and was 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, it was not to be. As he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the
appearance of an Angel who sadly apologized to him, and then told him that he
would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could
pass over to the 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 were not 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 waited.
One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge did not 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 over there, with the others, they are rescues. He was
turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur
graying and his eyes clouding. Sadly, 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, suddenly, the clouds parted
swiftly, and the gloom lifted with a mighty wind. 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 once again, young and healthy, just
as they were in the prime of their life.
"Watch, and see," said the second animal. A second group of animals from those
also waiting came to the pathway and bowed their heads ever so low as the person
neared closer. As each bowed head, the person offered a pat on their head or
scratch behind the ears.
One by one, the newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards
The Bridge. And then, one by one, they all crossed The Bridge together.
"What just happened?" asked the first animal.
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing to the rescuer in respect were
those who found new homes because of all their work. They will all cross over to
The Bridge, 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 all those poor animals that they
could not place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge.
"I think I like rescuer's," said the first animal, "So does GOD, "was the reply
from the second animal, "so does God."
Author Unknown
