Creature Care
Last night I had the privilege of presenting a series of digital “slide shows” to about 250 individuals at Camp Nathanael. Camp Nathanael is a Christian camp located in Perry County, Kentucky. Two friends of mine, Bob and Carol Murr, have lived and worked at the camp for several years as the camp’s host/hostess. They are missionaries who have devoted their lives to serving God in a Christian camp setting.
Bob and Carol are also licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Presently they are working with a whitetail doe and four orphaned fawns (two of these are pictured above), three baby raccoons, a baby coyote, a barred owl and a red-tailed hawk. Watching them work with these animals it is obvious that they love what they do and love the animals they work with. Once they come under their care each animal receives a name. Bob and Carol consider their work as wildlife rehabilitators to be part of their ministry. They even use the animals at camp to help teach both children and adults spiritual lessons.
Caring for wildlife might just be the oldest profession there is. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were given the responsibility of naming and caring for all the creatures that God had made. God said they were to have “dominion” over them. Unfortunately many have misunderstood the true nature of this word and interpreted it to mean “do with whatever you like.” That was never God’s intention.
Commenting on Genesis 1:28, Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, notes “The dominance is that of a shepherd who cares for, tends, and feeds the animals.” Brueggemann goes on to say “…the task of ‘dominion’ does not have to do with exploitation and abuse. It has to do with securing the well-being of every other creature and bringing the promise of each to full fruition.” I get the impression that Bob and Carol Murr are doing just this and for that they are to be commended.
–Chuck Summers