“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.” That’s the first thought that came to me when I awoke very early one morning with flu-like symptoms. I wondered what it meant to me and my situation. I recognized this verse from the Bible’s book of Job (12:7). Job faced not only great difficulties but also the opinion voiced by three of his friends that he somehow deserved his suffering. However, God holds His entire creation in His loving embrace—and another friend, Elihu, reminded Job that God is the source of all life (see 33:4).

Wanting to perceive God as the source of my life as well, I welcomed the guidance of that first verse. I decided to think about the animals mentioned by the pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist—the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

God holds His entire creation in His loving embrace. 

First, I recalled some Bible stories. A donkey three times refused to go forward even when its owner, Balaam—not realizing that God’s angel with a drawn sword was blocking the way—repeatedly punished the beast for disobedience (see Numbers 22:21–35). From this, I realized that being obedient to God, even if it doesn’t seem easy, is always the right thing to do. I remembered times I had willfully gone my own way but didn’t receive the blessings I had hoped for. I asked myself, “Have I learned to listen for and stick to what’s God-directed, honest, and right, without fear of the consequences?”

Then I thought of the lions when Daniel was tossed into their den (see Daniel 6)—and their mouths were shut by God’s angel. I pictured them perhaps deciding to trust that their supply would be provided in some other way than by eating Daniel. And I laughed because there had been times I had spoken out about my right to supply, when I really needed to trust God’s care. I could certainly be more willing to let God shut my mouth.

When Jonah tries to avoid obeying God’s command to preach in Nineveh (see Jonah 1, 2), a “great fish” is impelled by God to swallow Jonah and then vomit him out after three days. The obedience of the whale was in direct contrast to Jonah’s disobedience, and I grasped the demand to follow God’s leading. How many times had I resisted changing course in the past? When a step is divinely directed, it’s imperative to follow that guidance.

More examples of biblical references to animals came to mind—for instance, the wolf and the lamb, the kid and the leopard, the calf and the lion, the cow and the bear cited in Isaiah 11:6–9. And Christ Jesus sometimes mentioned animals and birds in his teachings, including sheep, ravens, sparrows, and doves. What important lessons they illustrate—for example, to get along with those who differ from us, to be gentle, to trust God’s provision, and to accept others as God’s children under His protection. 

Next, I turned to Science and Health, which explains the spiritual characteristics of certain creatures: “the fowls, which fly above the earth” (p. 511), corresponding to elevated hope; the lion, representing moral courage; cattle, demonstrating diligence and resolve; the worm, who perseveres tirelessly; the wise serpent; the peaceful dove; and innocent sheep. I saw that I express the same divine qualities and can always work to manifest them more perfectly.

What important lessons animals can illustrate—to get along with those who differ from us and to accept others as God’s children. 

Lastly, I recalled Mrs. Eddy’s illustration of a kitten reacting to seeing its own reflection in a mirror (see p. 220). Immediately, I understood that flu symptoms were nothing but a false sense of life and health reacting to its own mistaken concept of being.

Science and Health succinctly summarizes what I was learning: “All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible” (p. 514). I knew that this applied to me. I couldn’t be contagious, tired, or uncomfortable because I too was “harmless, useful, indestructible.”

At that point, I felt wonderfully rejuvenated. I fell asleep and awoke later in the morning completely well. I had a full and fruitful day, and the symptoms did not return.

I’m grateful for what animals teach me every day and for the challenge to put those lessons into practice!