I would say there is no “law of the jungle” … but … there is order…
And the animal kingdom bluntly and precisely lives, breathes, and epitomizes the rules of order.
In the wild, each species has its own set of customs, behaviors, and sense of community.
On my most recent safari experience, having seen these scenes play out so many times before, I was encouraged to take this broader and deeper sense and understanding of the way things are …
Come along with me as I use some creative license to reimagine The Lion & The Rule of Order:
If the Lion truly laid down the law on the African plains, he’d most likely not be the greatest of leaders. Why? Because he would dictate that every other species comply with his narrow, self-serving rules.
No diversity. No chase. No effort.
Here’s the backstory about this solo male lion:
Having been alerted by that game reserve radio network I described in my last blog, “When to Strike: Lessons from a Cheetah”, we veered off the beaten path in search of the lion that had killed a buffalo a couple of hours earlier.
In the company of one of the resident rangers, and our guide Moses, we found the buffalo … But the lion was nowhere to be seen.
There were no other animals in sight … but our guide assured us that the scavengers would not be far behind us, stating that hyenas could smell a kill from several miles away.
Thanks to the ranger’s expertise, and our guide who drove the Land Cruiser through the rough bush, we eventually found the lion too … calmly resting in the shade of a nearby tree.
IF there was a lion’s law of the jungle, then surely the lion would dictate that he could rest and expect to return and find his feed exactly as he had left it. And perhaps he might dare any ‘lesser species’ to violate his sovereign right over his kill.
But there is no law of the jungle that suffocates the needs and desires of one over the others. And there is no imbalance…
The natural order that ensues also ensures each species is reasonably provided for, satisfied, and does what is theirs to do.
Utopia in the wild? Probably not. Not even for the supposed king.
However, I learned that all animals, no matter how large or small, participate in the creation of jungle perfection. Each of them plays a critical role in the unique and delicate balance that simply is …
Between the rules of law and order, there are times when we might just choose the balance, creativity and freedom that lies in order.
If you’re the ‘king’ of your jungle, and managing a team, allow for the natural rule of order – as often as you can. Sometimes, your work environment is better served if you allow the “jungle” to work its own “perfection”.
Honor the wisdom of The Order of Life!
