A couple of summers ago, we found evidence of mice in our garage so my husband put out a mouse trap. The next morning he called me to a strange scene. A mouse had been caught and killed in the trap. But next to the trap was another mouse, dead.
We could only speculate that the second one, witnessing the demise of his buddy or mate, had expired from shock.
It was the first time I had ever witnessed such a phenomenon.
I tried to put myself in the second mouse’s shoes…er, paws.
Do I identify that strongly with the sufferings of my own loved ones? That their sufferings or misfortunes become mine as well?
Not like the Apostle Peter who declared that he was willing to follow Jesus even to death, but then denied that he knew Him at the crucial hour.
But more like Priscilla and Aquila, Paul’s fellow workers who risked their lives for him.
Or Andronicus and Junius who were in prison with Paul.
Our little nocturnal intruders into our garage teach me that I, as a human, do not corner the market on loyalty and empathy.
No indeed.
Sometimes we learn about love and brotherly affection from creatures many of us consider vermin.
May I be so devoted.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” Romans 12:10