Praying for Lions

Giraffe

CHOBE, BOTSWANA: The range rover normally seats nine, but I am the only guest this morning, as we depart the lodge for the Chobe National Park to view its diverse wild life. As if on demand a Kudu steps in front of us as we enter the park. Minutes later a herd of impala, stare us down, reluctant to get out of our way. Down at the Chobe river hippopotamus wallow in the shallow reeds, and further up on the banks a herd of elephants slowly makes its way to the river. Our goal though is the lion or the leopard. There are only twenty-five lions and fifteen leopards in the entire park of over ten thousand square kilometers. Spotting them is difficult, as the lions roam far and wide and the leopards are hard to detect among the trees’ foliage. Yet, just yesterday, my guide assures me, “We saw three lions and a leopard.” Suddenly, my guide stops and points to a herd of impala that have been frightened. “There, over there must be a lion.” We wait in silence as the impala dash into the bush. “It must be God’s will,” my guide finally sighs. “God’s will, I ask?” “Yes, I asked God to allow us to see the lion.” “Does your God often answer your prayers?” “Yes.” “Really?” “Yes!” “For example?” “Well, a couple years ago I woke up blind in one eye and prayed to Jesus — you see I’m Christian — I’m a Baptist. After a week, Jesus answered my prayer and I could see again.” “Did you see a doctor to find out what was wrong with your eye?” “No, I don’t go to doctors.” “But weren’t you curious as to what was wrong with your eye?” “No, I knew what was wrong. The village witch doctor had placed a curse on me.” At that point a water buffalo distracts us and we don’t return to the subject of prayers and lions. Instead, we drive around for another half hour seeing nothing but a few giraffe and gaggle of baboons. “Maybe tomorrow,” he says, as we pull up to the lodge.