Unlike most days at 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 had been
waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on
and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Rainbow 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 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 Rainbow 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 The Rainbow Bridge.
With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields
before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, 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 that had been
there for a while to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to
rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur
graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of 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 and among the older
animals, a whole group was suddenly 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 head, the person offered a pat on
the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell
into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The
Bridge together.
"What happened?" asked the first animal.
"That was a rescuer." replied the second. "The
animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because
of his 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 The Rainbow Bridge.
