What Were the Camels Thinking?

We were all looking forward to the camel ride. We had seen people do it on TV and also seen pictures of people who visited the desert and rode on camels. I was especially excited because I had never ridden on any animal before in my almost 47 years of life. I mean none … nada. Not even a horseback ride. The merry-go-round  horses don’t count here. 

So we get to the camel place. There were three camels all connected together by a rope.  The man I will call Camel Commander with his staff, hits the leading camel gently on its body signaling for it to bend down low so we the riders could climb on it. The 3 camels coupled but they let out a sound I had never heard before in my life -the camel sound. 

I don’t know how to describe it but something about that sound hit me in my deepest part. I felt I heard and understood the camels’ cries. It registered in me as a cry of resignation, boredom and weariness all expressed together.As we climbed on the camels bowed and sitting still, they were so motionless that climbing them felt like getting on one of those  lifeless merry-go-round  horses. We climbed and then Camel Commander used his staff to signal to the camels that it was time to get up and take us on a ride. They let out that heart piercing groan again and stood up. We enjoyed the ride and then following the same sequence to get the camels to kneel, we got down. 

I felt I was the only one having some mixed feelings about what we just did but then my 15 year son, Josh came to me and said 

“ Daddy, I feel bad for the camels.” 

I replied, “ I feel the same” 

I continued,   “But that’s the camels’ job - their burden. Everything in God’s creation has a burden to bear based on their purpose and design - even us. That’s what living is about - carrying our assigned burdens and doing it joyfully to contribute our quota to the overall good. Remember Jesus rode a donkey too. I just hope that the camel owners who are making a lot of money using the camels are loving, feeding and taking care of them well as they deserve to be. “ 

Josh seemed satisfied with my explanation and we went on to enjoy other desert camp activities. 

However thinking about this later, this musing was inspired in my heart.

I am a camel

I was born to roam the wild desert

Graced with resilience and ability 

to thrive for long without water

To carry burdens that would cause others to faint 

To live long for many decades

I am able to withstand heat and cold

that would kill most other mammals

I was found by man in the wild

Enticed by my humps 

Strength and flowing milk 

I was domesticated as his dromedary

Became is ride through the burning desert

Even his war carriage

His meat and milk to sustain him

Should I weep for my lot?

Should I complain about my burden?

Yes I do groan with weariness at times

I do feel the harshness of the whip 

But I thrive because I am using my strength

I am bearing my burdens with pride 

I am made for what I do

And without what I do

My existence will be meaningless

My strength will be wasted 

My resilience will be untapped. 

So, to you observing humans

Compassionate and looking at me with pity

Learn a lesson from me and find your own place

Bear your own burden 

And do it with grace

Whose burden are you crafted to bear?

What problem where you made to solve?

It is in losing yourself in this 

That you find fulfillment

And contribute your part to the creator’s plans.