I noted with a smirk the arrival of the elusive Gorilla man into our midst here in Hamilton. He seemed to be a very fit athlete encouraging to us to healthy exercise. At this early stage it is impossible to speculate how many have taken up this exciting initiative, but the effort is worth while, even if our body resists with every hard won step. Perhaps I will see him at Park run when it begins again? I’m sure that he would be made to feel very welcome.
But what impressed me more was the effect that Gorilla man seems to have had on the people who are fortunate to encounter him. Once we push through the element of surprise and wonder we are taken outside of ourselves and our worries, albeit for a few brief moments. Perhaps we are left scratching our heads, bemused, maybe even inspired; but for the briefest of moments, we are thinking about something other than you know what. The dreaded ‘bug a lug’ that cannot be named. And this being ‘taken out of ourselves’ and helped to grin, can only be a good thing.
In those few moments when we are taken aghast, we realise that life is short, that our vocation is to inspire and nurture others. To help us realise that the world within us, which we so easily allow to be polluted with worries and things we have no control over, is actually much bigger and boggling than we ever thought.
So a big thanks to the person in the gorilla suit. Thank you for the inspiration to get fit and Thank you for a brief moment of sanity when all seems quite mad. Go Gorilla man… you legend!