Elephants, which have been a feature of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for 146 years, will present their last performances this month, the circus has announced. All 10 of its current traveling pachyderms will be retired to Ringling's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida, bringing to 42 the number of Asian elephants at the preserve.
The move comes after years of battling with animal rights groups who maintain that the circus abuses the large animals to control them and make them perform.
While groups such as People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) welcomed the announcement, they say it is only a step in the right direction. These and other animal rights groups say the Ringling conservation center is a "concentration camp" for the animals and want the all of the elephants sent to sanctuaries where they can live out their lives undisturbed.
Ringling's center is different from a sanctuary, which the circus describes as a place for the elephants to "march to extinction." In contrast, the center is a place where the animals continue to be bred and produce progeny and thus add to the population of the endangered species.
According to recent estimates by the World Wildlife Fund, only about 32,000 Asian elephants remain worldwide, with about 250 in the United States, most at zoos. No more will be brought here due to a 1975 international treaty that prohibits trade in Asian elephants.
The animal rights groups insist that the elephants shouldn't be bred since there's no chance that their offspring will ever be in the wild.
Ringling's herd has produced 26 babies since the early 1990s, making it one of the most successful captive elephant breeding programs.
Regarding the demand that the animals be sent to sanctuaries, Janice Aria, director of animal stewardship at the Ringling center, told a reporter from The Boston Globe, "There is a misconception that we are running a puppy mill here. Our enemies say our elephants are better off dead than in captivity."
The elephants at the Ringling center may also make a significant contribution to human longevity. Ringling permits Joshua Schiffman, a pediatric oncologist at the University of Utah, to use blood from its elephants to study why the big mammals rarely develop cancer. Schiffman is looking for a genetic protector in the elephants' DNA in the hope that it might one day prevent cancer in humans.
Kenneth Feld, CEO of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey says such a discovery is "potentially the greatest thing ever in my life, and may be the greatest thing ever in everyone's life."
More on this story can be found at these links:
Circus Elephants Are a Thing of the Past. The Boston Globe
Final Elephant Performances: Ringling Bros. Shows in Wilkes-Barre. The Morning Call
Center for Elephant Conservation. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Here's Where Ringling Bros. Is Sending Its Circus Elephants to Retire. National Geographic
Final Elephant Performances: Ringling Bros. Shows in Wilkes-Barre. The Morning Call
Center for Elephant Conservation. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Here's Where Ringling Bros. Is Sending Its Circus Elephants to Retire. National Geographic
Applying the News Story
Long before the expression "the elephant in the room" entered American vernacular, pachyderms had an idiomatic place in our language in the expression, "Seeing the elephant and hearing the owl." This strange juxtaposition of images was sometimes used in the 19th century to describe an encounter with some insurmountable obstacle (hence "seeing the elephant") that threatened the very existence of the individual (hence "hearing the owl"). It was a phrase that settlers roaming the American wilderness and soldiers fighting in the bloody conflicts of the Civil War found occasion to use with some frequency.
The earliest likely use of the saying goes way back to the third century B.C., when Alexander the Great's soldiers defeated King Porus' elephant-borne troops in the Indus Valley. But it continued after the Civil War as well. TWW team member Mary Harriet Talbut has a clipping about her grandfather who fought in World War I. Its headline is "Paul Mueller Has Seen the Elephant."
Another use of "seeing the elephant" comes from the California gold rush in 1849, before the Civil War. While some fortunes were made on the gold fields, many of those who actually got there and staked a claim returned home with nothing to show for their efforts but the experience of having gone. They came home with empty pockets, but some seemed to accept their failure philosophically. Though tapped out and with no prospects on the horizon, they'd shrug and say, "At least I've seen the elephant!"
In that usage, the phrase may have been borrowed from a folk story about a farmer who was carting his vegetables to market but who, on the way, turned aside to watch a circus parade. His horses were spooked by some circus animals, causing them to bolt and dump his produce on the street, where it was trampled. The farmer, however, refused to cry over his loss. In fact, he appeared to be oddly happy, saying, "At least I have seen the elephant!"
Between the gold fields and the battleground, the meaning of the phrase seems to have gotten a little more severe, but in both cases, it referred to some kind of trouble that a person experienced but survived.
Perhaps the closest modern cliché with a similar meaning is "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger," but that doesn't quite equal the intent of "seeing the elephant." The elephant expression implies that though we've gotten through some great difficulty, all we have to show for it is that we aren't dead. Whether we are better off or stronger remains to be seen. In fact, sometimes, that which doesn't kill us leaves us weaker or broken.
That's one kind of ground on which our faith in God helps us find a way forward.
The Big Questions
1. When have you seen the elephant and heard the owl, but come out on the other side if not quite intact, at least still standing? What role did your faith play during that episode of your life? What, if anything, did you learn?
2. What are some "elephants" you face today and how does coming to church help you deal with them?
3. How might the modern question and answer "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time" help you with those difficulties? What Bible verses might you apply?
4. What "elephants" have you sent into retirement? Which ones have bred new problems? What does it mean for you as a Christian that you've had to face such difficulties?
5. When, after a significant loss, have you rejoiced in what you had left? What gave you the perspective to do that?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
1 Samuel 17:10-11
And the Philistine said, "Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (For context, read 17:1-11.)
And the Philistine said, "Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (For context, read 17:1-11.)
The "Philistine" in the verses above is Goliath, the giant whose challenges struck fear in the hearts of Israel's soldiers in the Valley of Elah, but who was eventually slain by David with his slingshot.
We could say that in facing Goliath, David saw the elephant, but he was victorious. But think also about the soldiers in both armies. Before David confronted Goliath, the army of Israel was cowering on their side of the valley while the Philistine soldiers, relying on Goliath's intimidation of Israel, were acting brave. But in truth, both sets of soldiers were nervous and uneasy about going into battle. Once David killed Goliath, the Philistine soldiers turned and fled in terror, with the Israelite army in hot pursuit. By the end of the day, the men of both armies had seen the elephant, but many did not live to tell about it.
Of course, as the victors, the army of Israel came home celebrating. But what about the Philistines? The Bible reports that the Israelites pursued them for a long way, so that many of them fell and never made it home. So of course, there was no victory party in Philistia. We can imagine that among those who did get home, shell-shocked and suffering from the horror of the massive and vicious bloodshed they'd just witnessed, these were low moments. They came home in terror and defeat. All they had to show for their efforts was the experience itself. They'd seen the elephant and heard the owl call some of their comrades. But surely there was at least some thanks that they personally had survived.
Questions; How might each of these experiences be "elephants": major surgery, death of a loved one, heavy debt, broken relationships, caring for someone whose disabling condition is permanent, job loss? When have you been able to help someone else corral their elephant?
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ... (For context, read 4:7-15.)
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ... (For context, read 4:7-15.)
This is from Paul regarding the troubles he and his coworkers had faced. They had seen the elephants, but were still standing.
Questions: What do you think enabled Paul and his colleagues to make this declaration? What scars do you think they were bearing? Was Paul saying they were just as good as new? If not, what was he saying?
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (For context, read 43:1-7.)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (For context, read 43:1-7.)
God said this through the prophet to the people of Judah who were in exile in Babylon.
Questions: How do you think the exiles, considering that they had by that point been in captivity for years, heard these words? How do you hear them? Where do you need to hear them now?
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (For context, read 8:18-30.)
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (For context, read 8:18-30.)
We need to look at that verse carefully, for it is often misunderstood. It is not saying that everything works out for the best no matter what. In fact, the verse is not about our circumstances; it is about God's sovereignty, his total independence of humankind. His purposes, the verse says, will be accomplished through any means God chooses. God's purposes cannot be overridden by anything we do. "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." God's intentions will be fulfilled, regardless of actions or inactions on our part, because God is in ultimate control.
Still, as we cooperate with God's purposes -- or, to use the language of the verse, as we "love God" -- there is likely to be an overflow of that goodness from which we will benefit. We don't always know what God's purposes are, but we have a clear enough view from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus to understand some of them. Aligning ourselves with those things about him that we do understand and trusting him for the ones we don't is a big part of what the Christian life is all about, and of seeing things in our lives work out for good.
Questions: What confidence, if any, does this verse give you about the occurrences in your life? When has the truth of this verse been plain in your life?
Might this verse somehow apply to finding a cure in elephant DNA for cancer in humans?
For Further Discussion
1. Respond to this: In England there is a chain of stores named Lewis'. One of the largest stores is in Birmingham. At one point, Lewis' in Birmingham wished to extend their premises, but right in the path of their proposed extension was a little Quaker meeting house. Accordingly, Lewis' Board of Directors sent a letter to the Friends Society saying: "Dear Sirs, We wish to expand our premises. Your little meeting house is right in the way. We are so determined to expand that we are willing to pay you whatever price you want for your building so that we may demolish and extend. Yours faithfully."
Not long thereafter, they got a letter back, which said, "Dear Sirs: We notice the intention of Lewis' to expand, we notice your willingness to buy our building at a price we name, but we wish you respectfully to know that we have been on this spot longer than you have been on yours, that we are determined to stay where we are, and if it would help, we are willing to buy Lewis' at any price you are to name." It was simply signed "Cadbury." Cadbury is the greatest maker of chocolate in England and they are Quakers.
If you look at the big firm of Lewis', and you look at the little Friends' meeting house, you would draw some immediate conclusions about who would win this battle. But the winner in this case is not determined by the size of a building, but by who signs the letters. We may sometimes look at the world and feel greatly overwhelmed by its problems. But the thing to remember is it is the Lord who signs the letters.
Not long thereafter, they got a letter back, which said, "Dear Sirs: We notice the intention of Lewis' to expand, we notice your willingness to buy our building at a price we name, but we wish you respectfully to know that we have been on this spot longer than you have been on yours, that we are determined to stay where we are, and if it would help, we are willing to buy Lewis' at any price you are to name." It was simply signed "Cadbury." Cadbury is the greatest maker of chocolate in England and they are Quakers.
If you look at the big firm of Lewis', and you look at the little Friends' meeting house, you would draw some immediate conclusions about who would win this battle. But the winner in this case is not determined by the size of a building, but by who signs the letters. We may sometimes look at the world and feel greatly overwhelmed by its problems. But the thing to remember is it is the Lord who signs the letters.
2. Comment on the parable about the blind men who each try to describe an elephant based on their individual experience with a part of the animal. The one who had hold of the tail said the elephant was like a rope. The one who touched the elephant's side described the animal as a wall. The one who felt the elephant's ear thought both of his friends had it wrong; obviously, the elephant was like a fan. The one who had his arm around the animal's leg laughed at them, saying the animal was most like a tree trunk. Meanwhile, the blind man who had hold of the elephant's trunk shook his head in amazement, claiming the animal was most like a snake. Each had part of the truth, but none of them had a lock on the whole truth about the elephant's real appearance.
Where might you apply this parable in your life?
Where might you apply this parable in your life?
3. Discuss this: In his book of short stories about God's grace {ITALIC}New Mercies I See, TWW team member Stan Purdum tells one titled "Still Standing" about a minister conducting a funeral where the arrangements had been made by a friend of the deceased who was angry at God because of his wife's death to cancer some years back. After the graveside committal, this man approaches the minister. Here's the rest of the story, told from the point of view of the minister:
"Uh ... Just a minute, Reverend."
I turned around. "Yes?"
"What you said -- about my forgiving God -- that didn't make sense. I thought your religion says we need God's forgiveness."
"We do. But sometimes we need the healing that comes from forgiving him."
"I don't understand."
Feeling suddenly weary, I exhaled deeply. "I'm not sure I can explain it any better than that. A lot of us would like to know why loved ones suffer as they do -- and there are Christians who say that someday, from the perspective of eternity, it will make some kind of sense. I don't know if that's so or just wishful thinking. But either way, that doesn't help us here when we are in pain."
"So what good does faith do then?"
I noticed a bird hopping on the top of a nearby tombstone, and cast my eyes in its direction. "I can only tell you that faith ... sometimes ... well, sometimes it gives something we need to go on without ... without being poisoned by what has happened." I glanced toward Drake. "And our refusal to forgive God interferes with that."
"So you're saying I need to forgive God for taking Jane from me?"
"It's a place to start," I said, continuing to watch the bird.
Drake didn't say anything to that, but stood there eyeing me intently for a moment. Finally he said, "You've had to do that too, haven't you? You've had to forgive God."
I looked back at Drake. "Yes," I said quietly. "We lost a daughter."
Drake and I stood there silently together for a long minute, both watching the bird as it hopped on the granite marker to some unmetered rhythm only it could hear.
Finally, Drake reached over and gripped my shoulder.
I nodded.
Then he turned around and walked back to rejoin his friends still standing around the open grave.
"Uh ... Just a minute, Reverend."
I turned around. "Yes?"
"What you said -- about my forgiving God -- that didn't make sense. I thought your religion says we need God's forgiveness."
"We do. But sometimes we need the healing that comes from forgiving him."
"I don't understand."
Feeling suddenly weary, I exhaled deeply. "I'm not sure I can explain it any better than that. A lot of us would like to know why loved ones suffer as they do -- and there are Christians who say that someday, from the perspective of eternity, it will make some kind of sense. I don't know if that's so or just wishful thinking. But either way, that doesn't help us here when we are in pain."
"So what good does faith do then?"
I noticed a bird hopping on the top of a nearby tombstone, and cast my eyes in its direction. "I can only tell you that faith ... sometimes ... well, sometimes it gives something we need to go on without ... without being poisoned by what has happened." I glanced toward Drake. "And our refusal to forgive God interferes with that."
"So you're saying I need to forgive God for taking Jane from me?"
"It's a place to start," I said, continuing to watch the bird.
Drake didn't say anything to that, but stood there eyeing me intently for a moment. Finally he said, "You've had to do that too, haven't you? You've had to forgive God."
I looked back at Drake. "Yes," I said quietly. "We lost a daughter."
Drake and I stood there silently together for a long minute, both watching the bird as it hopped on the granite marker to some unmetered rhythm only it could hear.
Finally, Drake reached over and gripped my shoulder.
I nodded.
Then he turned around and walked back to rejoin his friends still standing around the open grave.
Responding to the News
Sing together the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" and talk about where its words speak to you.
Prayer (from Psalm 69:1-2, 13-14, 30, 32-34)
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. … Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. Amen.
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