What the Whooping Crane Can Teach us About Survival

The day before yesterday I posted about how Tricia, Benjamin and I were driving down a back road and came across 3 Whooping Cranes.  Whooping Cranes are endangered species.  In 1941 there were 21 wild and 2 captive whooping cranes left in the world!  They were facing extinction.  There seemed to be no hope.  Today there are around 800.  And we had the opportunity to see these three not far from where we live.  They stand taller than 4 feet high and are remarkable to see.

These tough birds are survivors.  Determined.  Strong.  Resilient.  Resolute.

So it got me to thinking.  Perhaps the Whooping Cranes can tell us a thing or two about how to survive difficult, if not dire, circumstances.  In times of potential civil unrest or economic upheaval, one might look to the whooping cranes for survival tips.  Here's what they told me (Not really):

First of all, live in the country.  Notice that these birds are in the middle of a field, in the middle of nowhere.  They aren't in the middle of a city around a bunch of people.  Being in the country gives them ample room to look for food, to hide, to have privacy.  Wide open spaces give them a buffer zone between themselves and predators.  If one can see their enemy coming, they have time to engage the fight or flight reflex.  In crowded cities there is competition for limited resources.  When you take the back roads and "put a little gravel in your travel," things are simpler, more quiet, and more safe.

Secondly, stick with those you love.  If you'll notice, the three whooping cranes are not all by themselves.  They are a close-knit family.  They've got each other's backs.  They aren't loners, trying to be tough and make it on their own.  They depend on one another for companionship, safety, and help.  United we stand, divided we fall.  This bird family sticks together.  Our families should stick together.  Additionally, it helps to have a small church family that looks out for one another and rejoices with you when you rejoice and cries with you when you cry.  First and foremost, stick with God.  He is your Shield, your Portion, your Rock, your strong Tower.  He loves you unconditionally and watches over you in the midst of your darkest hours.

Finally, holler for help if you need it.  The Whooping Crane is called the whooping crane because of the loud noise they make.  According to Wikipedia, their calls are loud and can be heard for miles.  They have a "guard call" to warn each other of danger.  They have another "unison call" that they jointly call when defending their territory.  As people, when we are having trouble, we can reach out.  First, to God.  He is there to answer our prayers - from the smallest request to the deepest cry of our hearts.  We don't have to bear the whole burden alone.  Additionally, our family and friends are there to help us in our time of need.

“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”  ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca

The Whooping Cranes defied the odds.  At one time you could almost count all of them in the world on your fingers and toes.  Now, they are courageously making a come-back.  I guess we can learn a thing or two from them!