Real beauty needs no ivory …

I came across a news report early this morning that Tanzania and Zambia are considering the sale of their ivory stocks.  In anticipation, poachers have escalated their activities, and numerous elephants are being slaughtered in Kenya and other countries.

I came across a news report early this morning that Tanzania and Zambia are considering the sale of their ivory stocks.  In anticipation, poachers have escalated their activities, and numerous elephants are being slaughtered in Kenya and other countries.

This hurts my heart – elephants are such beautiful, wise, regal creatures.  When I visited the Kruger National Park in South Africa, a herd of elephants greeted us within 5 minutes of our arrival.  And an elephant (see the photo) bade us goodbye as we drove out of the park.  I gazed in awe and delight as a mummy elephant gently shielded her “little” baby from us as a herd crossed the road.  I fell in love with the paradoxes of the elephant – huge and lumbering yet graceful; powerful yet so gentle as seen in the quiet prodding of their trunks and sweetness in their eyes.  And they are wise, caring animals with legendary memories.  So much to love about them.

And we destroy them for what?  Adornment.  Beauty.   Enhancement.  Isn’t it time for us humans to realise that the only real beauty is love?  That when our hearts are pure we need no adornment?  That true beauty comes from within?  We need no ivory, gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds nor anything else when we remember Sam Levenson’s words, oft repeated by the timelessly beautiful Audrey Hepburn:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Sam Levenson