Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and grey, damp as a swamp and as dosmal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think, for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the birds who had spent some time there waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the bridge to watch.

They knew this was something special.

It wasn't too long before an elderly bird came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail feathers dragging along the ground. The other birds on the pathway, the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for a while, knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the birds heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or illness. Unlike the birds waiting at the Bridge, this bird had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigour. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the birds who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.

But alas, as he came closer to the Rainbow bridge, his way was barred by the apperance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old bird and apologized sorrowfully, telling him he would not be able to pass. Only those birds who were with their special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people... not here at the bridge nor on earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly bird looked towards the fields before the bridge. There, in a seperate area nearby, he spotted a group of sad-eyed birds like himself...elderly, infirm or unloved. Unlike the birds waiting for their special people, these birds weren't playing, but simply lying forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the birds who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

That poor bird was a rescue, sent to the rescue when his owner grew tired of him. The way you see him now, with dirty feathers and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was given to the rescue.

He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the rescuers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him accross the Bridge.

As he was about to recieve his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the bridge could be seen a single figure. A person who on earth had seemed quite ordinary, a person who, just like the elderly bird had just left the Earth forever.

This figure turned towards the group of sad birds and extended his outstreched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them all and they were bathed in a pure and golden light.

From within the gathering of birds waiting for their special people, a group of birds emerged and moved towards the pathway. As they came closer to the passing figure, each bowed low and each recieved a tender touch. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured wach name. Then, the newly restored birds fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed him to the Bridge. Where they all crossed together.

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. That person spent a lifetime trying to help birds of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor birds thats couldn't place on earth accross the Rainbow Bridge.

"You see, all birds are special to them, just as they are special to all birds."

"So does God," was the reply.