Stray Rescue for Humans

Bonds and afflictions awaited me… I needed a rescue story.

I follow many stray animal rescue sites. As an animal lover, a dog person, I look out for lost dog posts and find hope in reading the rescue stories of abandoned animals. I must confess that every time I read an animal rescue story I think, why can't we love humans the way we love animals? Teams of people responding to a report of an abandoned animal. Sometimes the animal is hard to catch, biting, barking, or evading their rescuers. Yet the rescuers never give up, often joining in large groups, going out in extreme weather conditions to save the one in need. Even though the animal runs, and might get away, the rescuers go back repeatedly with all efforts to save the animal. Then once rescued, the animal is rushed to a place of safety to get food, medical care, bathed, groomed, and loved on. Never having to pay their rescuers back, never having to sign a document swearing to be a good animal. The animal is loved unconditionally by their rescuers without judgement towards their condition. The animal’s story is shared with a picture of them in their condition for all to see. Money is donated, encouraging words are written. Celebrating the rescue with follow up pictures shared with a progress report for all to see the miraculous change. Many volunteer to house the animal temporarily until they can find a forever home.

When I read one of these rescue stories I think, why can't we love humans this way? Why do we think humans can rescue themselves? Why do we blame the human for being in the streets? When that human was most likely mistreated, cast aside, abused, and left alone by those who claimed to love them. When I read these animal rescue stories, I see my own rescue story. I have seen my own bonds and afflictions casting me out, leaving me broken and alone.

In Acts 21: 27-37, crowds of people surround Paul not to rescue him but to capture and kill him. Paul had angered the Jews by speaking out to all men everywhere about the way Jesus taught the Church of Acts to love one another. Paul had been seen with an Ephesian named Trophimus - a Greek! They claimed Paul brought the Greek into the Temple thus defiling the Temple and breaking Jewish Law. It is important to state that no one saw Trophimus in the Temple, the Jews just assumed that if Trophimus was walking with Paul in the city, then he could have been in the Temple. The crowd was so angry that it took 1,000 soldiers showing up with their commander for the crowd to stop beating Paul. Interesting rescue story. Yes, at this moment Paul was still bound and had to be carried away by soldiers because the mob was so great, but he was no longer being beaten.

Paul knew bounds and afflictions awaited him, but Paul also knew Jesus awaited him, Jesus prays for him, Jesus intercedes for him and Jesus is the resurrected Son of God. Paul only hoped others could know that love, too. There are very few who rally to rescue humans the way animals are rescued. There is one who never gives up on His lost sheep. Our good shepherd, Jesus. He loves us, brings rescue, food, healing, and washes us clean. He cradles us in our dying moments. He brings us home and deals out judgement to those who inflict pain on His people. Paul wrote of his rescue story in 2 Timothy chapter 4: 17-18. “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

I want to love humans like that, search until I find them, bring them to safety, food and healing. I want to celebrate their rescue story. Love them the way Jesus loves them. Love them even more than we love our animals.

-Nikki Fiedler