The first zoo eagle I met enlarged my perspective of role and function. I felt sad that he had been put on display in a setting that did not match the majesty of his species. I was appreciative that after being harmed in the wild and unable to fend for himself he had been rescued. But in my humanity I thought it disrespectful of his potential for his life to be monitored by visitors who had not known him when he was whole.

I approached with an attitude of respect. Being an interpreter, and finding bird relatively simple to interpret, I waited to see if he wanted to initiate. A thing to remember when interpreting creation’s voice is that other parts of creation do not think/speak as humans do. Nor should we expect them too.

He came closer. An invitation. I queried, “how are you doing?”

He answered. I have been chosen by Creator for this task. I am to educate the uneducated. I am to reveal my value in the kingdom. I teach, so people can experience awe at the Creator’s wisdom in fashioning me thus.

I was stunned. Broadened. Enlarged. Humbled. My interface with zoo animals grew from that point on.

This past weekend, I was at a different zoo with my daughter. The zoo had two eagles. I loved their space. They sat by a large lake. There were many kinds of life that could enter the area so that they could hunt. The space was large and had no overhead covering. Peace was tangible, like breath on a cold day. This zoo doesn’t get a lot of visitors. So the birds were more interested in us as the newcomers. I wondered if they knew why they were there. I started by asking if they knew their role in the zoo.

They looked, at us then at each other, then away. The dominant one looked back. The look was one I would give to someone that I perceived did not understand what I had said. I was confused. I thought I had a message of hope in offering the insight of the role to educate. I waited. And, he spoke.

“I am not in a zoo.” He was firm and sure about this. “You….”, he paused, “are the one in the zoo.”

Ha! It appears that even among zoo eagles, there are different perceptions of freedom and roles. My job was not to help him. But to learn, from his perspective. Still smiling. And so it goes.