The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Elephants in Danger:
African Droughts,
A Sign of Our Times By Matthew Fox 10/06/2025 |
In Saturday’s DM, which corresponded with the feast day of St. Francis, we remembered the beautiful life and inspiring accomplishments of Jane Goodall. As a young woman,
she chose to travel from England to Africa to live among chimpanzees and learn more about them up close and personal. |
And how her devotion to the chimpanzee nation inspired other young women to become scientists themselves. And how Jane broke new ground regarding questions we ask about relationships between our species and others’ species. How much we have in common with them, and how so often we underestimate the intelligence and habits of those of the animal kingdom who have, after all, survived and thrived and learned often for millions of years longer than us humans. (I think of
whales for |
Dr. Jane Goodall and Galahad in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Photo by Michael Neugebauer. Used with permission of the Jane Goodall Institute. |
example, who have been here 56 million years longer than homo sapiens.) Another warrior on behalf of animals is Kristal Parks, whom I have written about previously in these DMs, here and here. Kristal is a champion
for the elephant nation. She is on her way to Botswana this week, to join a couple who have made it their passion to assist elephants with watering holes, of which they are in dire need because of global warming.* Elephants can smell water 12 miles away, and the droughts in Africa have created a desperate situation. Kristal is hoping to learn more about how we can help them. |
Kristal Parks, M.A., as children’s entertainer, dedicated to bringing joy and delight to children while teaching them a respect for all life. Photo from KristalParks.com. | I highly recommend
the enclosed trailer of a movie on what elephants are challenged with at this critical time. Mother Earth is under stress due to climate change, and too many humans are denying this reality.
Elephants too are paying the price for human cold-heartedness, uncaring, rationalizations, lies, and just plain hiding our heads in the sand about the |
truth of climate change. Republican Party, I am talking to you. This statistic alone ought to wake up everyone who gives a damn about these amazing creatures: In the 19th century there were 26 million elephants in Africa. Today, there are 350,000. Obviously, not
all this loss is due to climate change—but most of it is due to human beings using and abusing these beautiful animals and their habitat. When we say Mother Earth as we know her is dying, the elephant demise is one story that lays the reality out for all to see. We are fast approaching a time when the Earth may be devoid of
elephants. Is this fact enough to awaken humans to our responsibility? Are we our brothers’ keeper? Our we loving our four-legged neighbors as ourselves? Or not? Are elephants original blessings worth saving? |
Kristal tells us that when she was living in Kenya several years ago, a tribal chief told her that in their tradition there is this teaching: That elephants are human in every way and that humans learned how to be truly human from observing elephants. This includes their rituals of helping one another in |
Samburu tribeswomen perform a ritual apology to endangered elephants for the mistakes of their ancestors. Video by BBC Studios. |
need and of honoring their dead and even the places where they die. The chief also taught her that if elephants go extinct, humanity will go crazy. That we cannot live or be ourselves without the elephant nation. These are sobering teachings. This news is worthy of headlines. Through fasting, non-violent protest, and media prodding a few years ago, Kristal was instrumental in getting Ringling Brothers to cease their practices of
incarcerating elephants. Let us wish her God speed on this latest pilgrimage. If you want to support elephants and those who are caring for them as best they can in today’s Africa, you are welcome to give a tax-free donation at Matthew Fox Legacy Project, a 5013c. We will see that 100% of the donation goes to them via Kristal. Write “elephants” on your check. |
Queries for Contemplation What do these ancient teachings mean to you, that elephants taught humans how to be human and
that if they go extinct, humans will go crazy? How do you see the plight of our fellow animals helping penetrate the denial of climate change, and the species narcissism alive and well in much of America today? |
|
| To view today's video, please click the image. You will be taken to today's post on the Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox
website, where you can see the meditation in a larger version and also view and post your Comments. In the sharing that follows, a kind of community is developing around the DM. If you can't reach today's post on the website directly, click HERE. If you can't reach Matthew's video on the website, try his Vimeo channel HERE. |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialogue, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox and journalist Gil Duran in a 2-part online lecture/discussion event countering Peter Thiel's apocalyptic theories. Wed-Thurs., October 8-9, 7-8:30 pm ET. Register HERE. Session 1 – Peter Thiel and the Antichrist: What Would Jesus Say? Matthew Fox explores the Antichrist archetype in light of his book Trump & the MAGA Movement as
Antichrist, offering a spiritual lens for understanding Thiel’s fixation. Session 2 – Billionaires, Political Theology, and the Future of Our Democracy Matthew Fox and Gil Duran explore together how a peculiar and perverse
political theology is shaping the imaginations of tech billionaires and what this means for our shared future. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book, Meditations with Meister Eckhart in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, October 16, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join spiritual pioneers Dr. Matthew Fox and Rev. Cameron Trimble for “In Search of a New Story: Reimagining What Comes Next,” a timely and transformative 4-part series featuring conversations with some of the most compelling wisdom voices of our time: Carolyn Myss, Diana Butler Bass, Luther Smith, and Ilia Delio. Thursdays, October 23, 30, and November 13, 20, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox in a new 6-month program of mystical wisdom for a new world. In this 6-month immersion program with Matthew, you’ll explore what it means to be a modern mystic and prophet, integrating this sacred knowledge into your life through the authentic teachings of Jesus and other wisdom keepers. This journey births what Matthew calls Christianity 2.0 — based not on dogma, but on a spirituality that recovers the sacred sense of original goodness. By Application only - apply
HERE Register for a free information session HERE |
|
MONTHLY: Join Matthew Fox and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors. Last Tuesday of every month, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting HERE, Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Join
us for a transformative 4-part series that brings together some of the most provocative spiritual leaders, thinkers, and activists of our time. Together, we’ll explore the deep spiritual roots of this political moment and uncover pathways toward collective action, resilience, and renewal. Sign up HERE. |
|
Inspired by this post? Share your insights on BlueSky, Instagram, Universeodon, or Facebook using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
|
|
|
