Celebrating first love for Africa

Ironically, he died the week I left for Africa. I had not seen him in a very long time. In fact, I am more than a little embarrassed to admit that I did not know he was still alive. Undoubtedly, he had retired years, maybe decades ago. I am not even sure how old he was, at least in his 80s.

While his death was not unexpected, the timing for me seemed providential. He was the one who, long ago, introduced me to Africa. I was only a boy when he opened the doors to that Dark Continent to me. Now I was actually going there.

When I was young, I saw Africa through him and his films. Although I thought of Africa as a dangerous, deadly place, because of him it also came across as a playful place. His comic antics and just general humor endeared the jungle to a young boy. My first love for Africa was because of him.

People who knew him in his last years say he never really changed. Even to the end he loved to make people laugh. One person said, “If I was in a bad mood, he would pick right up on it. Then he would tease me and try to make me smile.” It is nice to know he never lost his sense of humor; so many of us do with age.

Though he could no longer work, he stayed active, enjoying his art and watching football. In particular, he found great comfort in Christian music, listening to it for hours at a time. With no children and few visitors, he enjoyed the residents and the employees at the retirement center. They enjoyed him as well. While he was definitely a celebrity and the most famous resident, he was never aloof or distant but always compassionate.

Cheetah died on a Saturday in a Florida primate sanctuary. Kidney failure was the listed cause of death. Cheetah had moved to the sanctuary in 1960 from the Florida home of Johnny Weissmuller. Weissmuller, an Olympic swimmer, portrayed Tarzan in motion pictures between 1932 and 1948. Cheetah was the chimpanzee who played alongside Weissmuller and actress Maureen O’Sullivan.

Truthfully, there were a number of chimps that played Cheetah. No one is certain which one this Cheetah was. Some even doubt the chimpanzee’s résumé. However, Debbie Cobb of the sanctuary stands by Cheetah and his reputation.

Cheetah was the product of intense training and teaching. He was also a product of God.

We may grieve the fact animals are removed from their environment to entertain and humor us. However, they also teach us.

In the scriptures, animals are portrayed as a valued part of God’s creation. From the beginning in the garden, humans are entrusted with their care and preservation.

Jonah is sent to Nineveh to save the city from destruction. God tells the prophet that in Nineveh, “There are 120,000 people who do not know their right from their left.” Then he adds, “And also many animals.” In this odd little book, animals matter to God.

In fact, it is a great fish that ultimately teaches Jonah a valuable lesson. “No one can run from God.” It is God who provides the fish to swallow the drowning prophet and it is God who commands the fish to spit a penitent Jonah on the very shore he was avoiding.

People debate the validity of a man living in the belly of a fish for three days. The story may illustrate strange biology, but it provides wonderful theology. God can use anyone or anything, whether it is a great fish or a funny little chimp. Sometimes God even uses us.

Editor’s note: In the coming weeks, Dr. Mark Ross, the pastor of Marion Baptist Church, plans to write a series of columns about his work earlier this month in Africa.