Monday, October 31, 2011

Thanksgiving Month, Day 29: Of Tiny Broken Elephants and Wounded Tin Soldiers

At coffee the other day you handed me a gift bag; in it, carefully wrapped, were some of my carved elephants that you had found amid your possessions.


Then you drew another elephant out from your breast pocket. "This one is broken ... I'm so sorry ..."




His left front lower leg was missing, hewed off by some unknown, unavoidable force that no one could have predicted would damage him so frighteningly.


I wondered briefly where the missing foot had ended up.


I wondered if he was scared when he heard the grinding sound as stone dislodged from stone. (Get a grip, I told myself, It's an ornament, for heaven's sake!)


I wondered where I would put this tiny elephant who was still saluting so bravely despite his loss.


"I wonder if I might have him?" you asked diffidently.


Of course - that's exactly where he belongs! I thought immediately.


"Of course you may!" I exclaimed, and watched as you carefully tucked him back into your pocket.


And I thought of the day, two years ago this month, when I received that phone call saying, "He's had a stroke - it's not good ..."


Thanks for driving out to help me with the deprogrammed till!
But today, two years later, you are still soldiering on, still with us. Your left hand and foot are sometimes a little uncooperative, you acknowledge. You get tired more easily.


But the point is, you still persevere. You still get up in the morning and do what you believe with all your heart you are called to do.


So keep that tiny elephant safe, a talisman of suffering and courage and gallantry. When you glance at him, remember that you, too, are a survivor, that you are still here for a purpose.


Keep your dream alive. And know that there are many of us at the TH who are rooting for you ...



4 comments:

  1. Love you, Andy! The greatest strength of the elephant is life in community. We are glad you're part of ours.

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  2. Thanks so much for all your kindness: I cannot imagine that I deserve it. The little elephant is safe, standing on top of my monitor, watching over me through the best part of my day!

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  3. elephants and angels... one and the same...
    sometimes show up in pockets... sometimes in dreams...
    some amble loose like tea... wild and free...
    others are bagged and tame... gifted with a special name
    some wear worry and are broken... all loved just the same
    others tread lightly... fly on a whim and a prayer...
    and then there's one we know well... comes with 'tea bag' as a moniker...
    paradoxically domesticated and proper... though whimsical and fancy free...
    sometimes the world on her back... always light of the world inside...
    forever carrying care in her name... with and for you and me...
    an angel we all know... whom we give thanks for every day...
    the th tb ... who couldn't have brought this month...
    her days of thanksgiving... close to a more perfect close...
    in a more elephantly elegant... or amiably ambling... sort of way.

    you're very special, angel K!

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