jenluckenbach
04-22-2004, 04:32 PM
THE RESCUE RAINBOW 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 that
> 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 cat came into view, head hung
> low and 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 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 who were with their people could pass over
> Rainbow Bridge.
> With no place else to turn to, the elderly cat turned towards
> the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other cats like
> him, 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 awhile 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 cat 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 cat 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 feline. 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 all those poor animals that they couldn't
> place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.
> "I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.
> "So does God", was the reply.
>
> 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 that
> 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 cat came into view, head hung
> low and 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 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 who were with their people could pass over
> Rainbow Bridge.
> With no place else to turn to, the elderly cat turned towards
> the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other cats like
> him, 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 awhile 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 cat 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 cat 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 feline. 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 all those poor animals that they couldn't
> place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.
> "I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.
> "So does God", was the reply.