THE RESCUER AND THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
Unlike most days at the 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 thier beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at
the pathway leading to The 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 a 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 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 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, he would not be able to pass.
Only those animals who were with thier people could pass over 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 just like himself, so elderly and infirm. They
weren't playing, but rather simply lying in 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 awhile 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 her towards The Bridge. The all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer." The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new
homes because of her work. They will cross when thier 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.
- author unknown
