change how you see the world

Over the weekend, I was scrolling through my news and social media sites and came across an old meme that made me smile (and think) - a picture from the African Savannah that can serve as an example and additional reminder for how we can continue to learn from nature and choose to adjust our traditional perspectives in order to better approach life in these often tumultuous and chaotic times.

“Change how you see,

and see how you change.” – Ancient Zen proverb

The accompanying picture was taken during the excessive heat of the African Savannah’s dry season. The story shares that a lioness and her cub were attempting to cross an open expanse, but the unrelenting heat was making walking difficult for the lion cub. During their struggles, assistance came from a very unlikely place – an African elephant.

While most zoologists agree that elephants have no natural enemies (other than man) due to their size and protective instincts, it’s not uncommon for large aggressive predators like lions to seek out the young or old elephants as potential prey when food is scares – which makes this picture that much more remarkable. Somehow, the elephant in this picture both recognized and empathized with the lioness’ predicament. While we don’t exactly know what transpired prior to the photo being taken, somehow the elephant was able to convince the lioness that he/she presented no danger, picked up and then carried cub across the hot tundra to a pool of water – all while the concerned but trusting lioness walked by their side.

Now before you succumb to the alarm and BS bells ringing in your rational and naturally suspicious mind, try to recognize the simple beauty of today’s inspirational quote and accompanying picture and story. At first glance, our eyes see two wild animals and natural adversaries. Based on our relative knowledge of the African Savannah, they should have absolutely no extrinsic need to help one another. So how do we explain this picture?

I’d prefer not to engage my natural pragmatism and explore potential rationalizations like the photo was staged/altered or the picture took place on a safari reserve in which the elephant and lioness were raised together, circumventing their instinctual mistrust of one another. I’d much rather embrace the Zen proverb above and challenge my initial visual interpretation. Perhaps what I see are two caregivers who traditionally have no cause to engage with or assist one another. However, a common cause like that of being able to help those who are unable to help themselves, unites them. They are able to overcome their traditional (instinctual and learned) differences and perform an act is both beautiful to witness and heartwarming in its application.

How often do we come across situations in our hectic lives where our natural blinders justify the limited scope of our vision and contribute to our ability to ignore those around us in need? And while still I’m confident that there are innumerable selfless and charitable acts that occur (by us/around us) on a daily basis, I wonder how many of those occur between two parties who are traditional adversaries?

Like many of you, I have many things to be grateful for – family, friends, a rewarding job, and countless others. And while I strive to “give back” where I’m able, I’m pretty sure that my unconscious biases assist in the filtering and selection of the recipients of my actions. I most surely don’t naturally expand my target aperture to include those I rarely get along with – which perhaps that only increases the gap between “my side” vs “the other side.” A simple sample of the current news provides a bleak picture in which the ugliness of the world seems to have gained an upper hand in its precarious balance with beauty and love that attempt to co-exist. Looking again at today’s picture, I’m hopeful that if we become better at how we see the world, the change it produces in our awareness can not only help rebalance the scales, but perhaps add a little extra and much needed weight to the more positive side. And we can certainly use a little more love and beauty in our lives.