Elephants and Drugs
Andrea wondered why people used recreational drugs. She knew friends who regularly got drunk or high. Why? Was it the need to escape?
Then she learned of a herd of African elephants who climbed a mountain each year to eat fermented berries. The berries were only on one mountain and fermented at a specific time. Year after year, the elephants went out of their way to climb up the mountain to get drunk. Andrea was fascinated. She flew to Africa and journeyed to where the elephants lived.
The herd welcomed her. She had prepared and was fluent in their language. When Andrea asked her big question, an old elephant told her, “I’d love to say something clever but we just love getting drunk.”
This was not the enlightenment Andrea anticipated.
She asked for guidance, the elephants joined her and prayed and God appeared. “You never appear when people pray,” Andrea said to God, stunned.
“Only elephants,” God told her. “Humans only grew because of opposable thumbs. You need to learn more, Andrea, so I will upgrade you.” And God disappeared–after transforming the startled Andrea into an elephant.
She liked the size, the grazing, the herd. She enjoyed being an elephant. Eventually she even joined the trek up the mountain.
Unfortunately, poachers were waiting.
Andrea’s feet became umbrella stands.
But do not feel sad. She rose into the afterlife, which she found wonderful, the best part being there were plenty of elephants and God listened to her concern about the use of intoxicants. And poachers. God removed both.