13 Feb, 2009
CANBERRA (Reuters) - A love story between two badly burnt koalas rescued from Australia's deadliest bushfires has provided some heart-warming relief after days of devastation and the loss of over 180 lives.
The story of Sam and her new boyfriend Bob emerged after volunteer fire-fighter Dave Tree used a mobile phone to film the rescue of the bewildered female found cowering in a burnt out forest at Mirboo North, 150 km (90 miles) southeast of Melbourne.
Photos and a video of Tree, 44, approaching Sam while talking gently to her, and feeding her water from a plastic bottle as she put her burnt claw in his cold, wet hand quickly hit video sharing website YouTube, making her an Internet sensation.
But it was after reaching a wildlife shelter that Sam met and befriended Bob, who was saved by wildlife workers on Friday, two days before Sam, in Boolarra, about 180 km from Melbourne.
Tree, who has been a volunteer fire-fighter for 26 years, said it was extremely rare to get so close to a koala so he asked his colleague Brayden Groen, 20, to film him.
"You can see how she stops and moves forward and looks at me. It was like a look saying "I can't run, I'm weak and sore, put me out of my misery," Tree told Reuters.
"I yelled out for some water and I sat down with her and tipped the water up. It was in my hand and she reached for the bottle then put her right claw into my left hand which was cold so it must have given her some pain relief and she just left it there. It was just amazing."
Story and Photo courtesy of www.news.yahoo.com.
"I was thirsty and you gave me a drink"
Matthew 25:31-40 (ESV)
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
What does today's God Story Scripture teach us about caring for others?
The first thing the firefighter in today's story did was show up in the area that had been affected by the wildfires. If he didn't go into that area, he would not have found the thirsty koala. Just like that firefighter, when we are out in the world that has been burned by the ways of sinful man, we need to be watchful for those who have a need that we can meet - whether it be physical or emotional or spiritual.
Check out the study notes from the Life Application Study Bible on Matthew 25:34-30 ...
This parable describes acts of mercy we all can do every day. These acts do not depend on wealth, ability, or intelligence; they are simple acts freely given and freely received. We have no excuse to neglect those who have deep needs, and we cannot hand over this responsibility to the church or government. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others' needs.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Take some time this weekend to discover "the least of these" in your community.
- Begin praying regularly for those you who in need in your community.
- Read John 4 for another story of how Jesus quenched someone's thirst.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Find someone today who is hurting and meet a genuine need they might have.
- Encourage the one you help to "pay it forward" by helping someone else they know.
- Talk to your parents, youth pastor, or campus minsitry leader about organizing an effort to meed the needs of "the least of these" in your community.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
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- December 2011 [20]
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- October 2011 [15]
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- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
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- February 2011 [20]
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- July 2010 [22]
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- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
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- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
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- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
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- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
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- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
