After our recent special time at Pond Place, I wondered what might be in store for us today. No such wondering for Penny, she was eager to be off. So, we did. 

Arriving, we found the Troupe waiting for us. We went through what has become our greeting ritual, with me taking special care to greet Kermit. We had not had much time since he joined us, and it was a delight to have him ride on my shoulder. Penny was inquisitive with him, but respectfully gentle. 

They turned and led us to the Meadow, and then beyond. We were headed to the Plain where we found Ellie. I thought of her and speculated that she might miss her kind. We’d see. 

Arriving up on the rocky outcropping, I looked down to see Jesus surrounded by giraffes! Lovely to watch. I have long been fascinated by these golden creatures. How they walk with those long legs. They seem to glide over the ground. When they gallop, their hind legs move out ahead of the front ones. Seems ungainly, but it works. 

I spotted the tallest one, a male at about 20 feet and well over 2000 pounds. His long long neck would be able to reach very high up in a tree. They like trees with thorns, but their 20-inch long, green, thick tongues are not bothered by the pricking. I did not question the design of these animals like I did the horse, because if there are to be tall trees on the plains, then there needs to be long necks to reach. As I looked, I could see how their spots were different. I could not keep track of them all, but I did see one little female whose spots caught my attention as delightful. She had a brown spot with a thin black trim around it right in the middle of her forehead between the tiny buds of horns. Like a fingerprint. I named her Geri. 

As I watched, the giraffes were all around Jesus, bending down their amazingly flexible necks to greet him. Kind of a cross between a hug and a caress. He was reaching up to touch and pat. The littlest ones were making mewing sounds, but the older ones were silent. He looked up and saw us waiting at the top of the rock stairs and waved us down. 

Penny as usual lead the way, bounding down with happy barks and grunts. Surprisingly, Ellie was next, hurrying as well as she could down the steep stairs. Not so surprising, I thought, as this was her home turf. She was eager to be down there. Jesus watched her come, smiling. I watched; concern she would fall. Arriving on the dirt she rolled over and sprayed herself with the dirt. I laughed. Here I thought it was all about connecting with her turf, but it also was the dirt kind. 

Joining everyone on the Plain, I went to the Lord to have my hug and greet him. I so missed that when I was not here. I was quickly surrounded by his creatures as they explored me as a stranger. Tongues, sniffs, pushes, and then neck hugs. How they could bend them, like they were made of rubber. Maybe that is where the expression “rubber necking” came from. Hum. They had an odd smell, not really unpleasant, like chemicals. 

When I looked around, I saw Ellie and the little giraffe I had named Geri, playing. Makes sense, they are about the same age and size, and they both grew up here. I was glad she had a playmate. Aslan too was enjoying being on his home turf. He wandered around and among all the animals and they welcomed him.

Jesus turned to Bear and made a soft bearish noise, and Bear came to us. “Come, there is more.” So, Bear and I followed him. 

He led us up the rocky steps to the ledge where we turned and looked down on the happy scene below. Aslan looked up at me as if to say he was on Penny watch. I grinned and waved. Upward we went. It was fun to watch Bear in his element, for the mountains were his home turf. He scrambled up without breaking stride, his little tail on his big behind wagging happily. I found my footholds as I went higher and higher. The air was noticeably cooler but was refreshing. 

Jesus paused at the bend ahead waiting for us to catch up. Bear came and sat down next to me, giving me a chance to scratch his neck. Then the Lord moved around the bend and out of sight. We followed, turned the corner and there before me was a huge lake. It was a brilliant cobalt blue, so still I could look down and see the rocks below the surface. The opposite side of the lake disappeared like an infinity swimming pool. It just ended and the sky began, a softer sky blue. The two colors met presenting a horizon line. “Wondrous,” I exclaimed.

“This lake is at the top of this world and falls to streams throughout. It never runs dry, and the water gives life to all. Even to your Pond.”

Jesus kept moving up to the final rock grouping that sat in snow. We were at the top. He then stepped up to the very top, and as I watched him, he seemed to glow and vibrate. I remembered him as the Light so seeing him that way was quite natural. He extended his hand to me, indicating I was to join him. 

Once there, I looked all around, a full circle. Looking far into the distance, the landscape shimmered and faded out. There were snow-capped mountains, what looked like the ocean, grasslands, and the ever-present tree canopy. I realized just how far up we had walked. 

“One of your steps equals miles here,” he said, reading my thoughts. “Tell me what you see.”

“I see how vast this Place is, and that it is all yours. I see that there is more here than I could explore in my lifetime. I see that the places and sights you choose for me to experience are chosen by you to bring me joy. Lord, I feel young and smallish next to you just now. You have come to me all these times as Friend, Companion, and Lord. Now you are Creator and Master. All of this is beyond my ability to take in. What is this place?” 

“You are in the Father.”

“I…..”

“You are in the Father’s mind.”

“But I, ….”

“Just as the Father and I are one, so you and I are one. I am of the Father and you are of Me. I am in you and you are in Me. So you are also present in the Father. He has created for us a world that conforms to your experience of reality. Because He loves you. It is our way of joining you in your limited world, so you can experience our love.”

“Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.”

“We know your heart and that words do not convey your gratitude and amazement. We are blessed by your thankful soul.”

He suddenly turned and pointed; it was a huge bird. “A condor,” I asked?

He nodded yes. And then there were more raptors. Vultures, eagles, hawks, and falcons. Each one flew by us, dipped a wing to acknowledge their Creator, and flew on. There were all sizes, colors, wingspans, and calls. Some were merely rasping caws, but a few had a more pleasing sound. There was a melody of sorts, a phenomenon that I was coming to expect. Looking down at the lake, they were mirrored perfectly. So much so that I grew dizzy with the moving effects. 

Jesus then put his arm around my shoulder and steadied me as our platform of rocks began to descend. I looked over at Bear who was sitting nonplused by all the activity. He would look up at a bird when there was a loud cry, but otherwise was contended to wait. 

We kept sinking until we were at the water’s edge. A small shelf of pebbles made a bit of beach in front of us. We sat down to wait. And then came the ducks, geese, and swans. Hundreds of them, honking and quacking as they landed on the water. I clapped my hands with delight as they swam toward us. Soon we were surrounded. The colors! My oh my, the colors of all those feathers. Wee little ducks to giant brown Canadian geese. The swans floated elegantly, seemingly without feet to paddle. The ducks tipped upside down so duck butts dotted the display. It was more than a 3-ring circus. Everywhere I looked there were swimming birds. They came to pay their respects and check me out. I could touch and stoke their amazing plumage. Goose down is soft like wispy cotton. Lovely. 

“This is such a treat! All those hours in our boat watching them.” I leaned my head to his shoulder and felt him smile. 

Gradually the lake emptied of all the fowl, Bear stood and stretched (a sight worth mentioning), and he began to amble down the rocks leaving us with a view of a large black rump and swishing tail. I laughed out loud with delight. I even heard a small chuckle from him.  

We turned to descend, which did not take very long at all. The Plain came into view and there was Penny panting on the grass. I could see that she had a lovely romp. Aslan was waiting, and when he saw me, he turned to tend to his own business. Ellie and young Geri came to greet us. Bear had gone off somewhere, so it was just the girls, Penny and me. 

“Jesus, thank you…” But he was gone. 

Kermit came and hopped up to say hello. I began walking out, turned, and realized that we had a new member of the Troupe. Ellie and Geri, the Girls, had made that decision. I gently place Kermit on Ellie’s head, because it was far more stable than Geri’s bobbing one, and Penny and I walked home.