The Trouble with Lesson-Teaching Animals

Last updated on: April 23, 2007 at 5:30 am by John Shore

The Trouble with Lesson-Teaching Animals 2007-04-23T05:30:04-08:00 John Shore

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Okay, so we were talking about Life Lessons that we can learn from nature.

Hmm.

Well, the first thing that comes to my mind is Flipper. (For you younger readers, Flipper was the name of a dolphin who used to star in a TV show called Flipper. The show first aired in 1964. That was right about the time America’s involvement in the Vietnam War was really starting to crank up. Though Vietnam was certainly a difficult time, the one thing everyone agreed on was that it sure was great being able to turn on TV and watch a show starring a dolphin.) Even though when I was a kid about the only way to get me to move from in front of the TV was via a fire hose, I wasn’t a huge Flipper fan. I found the whole concept of the show confusing. For one, dolphins always seem to be smiling. At least when Lassie was barking out the details of an unfolding emergency, she had about her a measure of gravitas. But a smiling, dancing, flipper flapping dolphin somehow never communicated to me “A boat has tipped over!” so much as it did, “Throw me another fish!”

Plus, Flipper’s voice wasn’t exactly music unto my ears. Like anyone, I think it’s massively cool that dolphins have this whole language they can communicate with. But I’m afraid that if dolphins ever want to communicate with me personally, they’re going to have to come up with another voice. If a dolphin ever called me on the phone using the voice they do now, I’m afraid that, before I could even stop myself, I’d hang up.

And that would just be so wrong.

I wonder if Jacques Cousteau was hard of hearing?

Anyway, Flipper was, I believe, a good example of an animal who taught people valuable life lessons. I’m sure he taught lots of great stuff to the two boys who … owned him, or used to hang out with him, or whatever. He probably taught them great stuff like “Use suntan lotion,” and … um … gosh … “Try not to bleed too far out into the sea”? I really don’t know; as I say, the lesson Flipper mostly taught me was that when it came to talking animals, Mr. Ed was really the only way to go. (Again, for you younger readers: Mr. Ed was the name of an old TV show starring an “amazing” horse named Mr. Ed. What made Mr. Ed so amazing was that he spoke perfect English.) I actually wasn’t too keen on Mr. Ed, either, though. Again, too confusing. Why wasn’t the guy who owned Mr. Ed—Wilbur—married? He sure seemed old enough to be. But instead, Wilbur’s only friend seemed to be this horse—this horse who spoke only to him. And, to me, the fact that Mr. Ed spoke exclusively to Wilbur made unavoidable the question of whether or not Wilbur was, in reality, insane.

I just couldn’t enjoy a show about a lonely bachelor who is so psychologically disturbed that he imagines farm animals talk to him. If I wanted that kind of programming, I could always watch The Twilight Zone. Which, again, I rarely did. Who knew what the animals on that show might do?

Previous Post

April 22, 2007

Coyotes. Nature. Troubadour pants

Next Post

April 26, 2007 Was Jesus Funny?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christian Issues Christian Spirituality Dear John En Espanol Everywhere She's Not Humor Look See Pastor Bob's Corner Personal Portuguese Relationships Russian Short-short story Smith Family Chronicles Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2024 August 2022 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 June 2019 December 2018 May 2018 May 2017 January 2017 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I lift my eyes to the _________, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Heavens Sky Hills Seas

Books by This Author Books by John Shore

See All Titles »