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A Special Bridge Spot for Rescues Unlike most days at the 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 who have been
waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what is going on and
started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It wasn't long before an elderly animal 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 animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow
Bridge. With no place else to turn, the elderly animal turned towards
the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals 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
who had been there for a while to explain it to him. "You see,
that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to the rescue just
as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his
eyes clouding. He never made it out of the 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 animal
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 amongst the older animals, suddenly the
whole group was 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 animal. A second group of animals
from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person
neared. At each bowed animal the person offered a pat on the head
or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into
line and followed her towards The Bridge where they all crossed
over together. "What happened?" asked the first animal.
"That was a rescuer and the animals you saw bowing in respect
were those who found new homes because of her 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
those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across ~Anonymous~ |