It depends on which characteristics one focuses on ...and is it easier to imagine the hoof changes, a precise body pattern in the hair, or a complete change in body structure (such as the neck)???
The okapi is often called the 'forest giraffe'.
Some people believe you can get just about anything from Walmart ...but, can you get a jumart from Walmart?? The very creative internet has multiple claims on this. Though they don't claim you can find one at Walmart, they say that ranchers have seen bulls often mate with horses. Other articles say that is impossible and only mythical folklore. So, though I don't want to get into any mating conversation, I know an attempt does not mean it will bring about an offspring. An insane idea could also say an animal could mate with a knotty pine, but it would not bring about a half animal/half tree. And it wouldn't be an act of a knotty pine, it would be a naughty animal.
I digress ...
All this being said (or the beginning of what could be said), I'd rather use my imagination with things that are not claimed to be true by others (when it is merely an imagination of what one thinks may be true), and center upon what I believe to be true.
It seems a fair evaluation that while one may claim their beliefs are scientifically sound ...though their science may be exceptional, their knowledge of how things actually originally happened is not factual as they may claim or hope for.
What I am presenting is not scientifically sound, as I am focusing on the spirit world which does not operate the way we often feel comfortable with. And though I don't know much about the spirit world, I do feel comfortable with enough aspects of it to form my foundational beliefs.
That being said, I am taking artistic license with my story, most of which is not foundational. Nonetheless, here is my story:
Dad: He knew he wasn't supposed to be here ...and actually, it was forbidden. But, why?? Was it because something special was being withheld from them? Was the something special, a special something to give one more power? Or was it a test, and what kind of test?? Was it a test to see who would betray a trust, or was it a test to see who was bold enough & strong enough to deserve that which was being withheld from all others??
Alex: I think it was a test ...it was a test, wasn't it, Dad?
Dad: He actually didn't know, yet it wasn't so much what it was ...it was more what he thought it was. And he thought something was being withheld from him ...something that would make him greater, perhaps the source of power of the only one allowed access here.
Alex: What kind of power, Dad??
Dad: Just hold on, the story won't make sense if I don't tell it. Now, do you want me to tell the story, or just answer all your questions?
Alex: I'm sorry, Dad ...the story seems like a good one.
Dad: Well, he knew he wasn't supposed to be here, but he had gone this far. He is at the peak of this mountain, and he sees a passageway which must lead to where all those brilliant lights are coming from. The stones beneath his feet are fiery hot, but so is his pursuit ...he is almost to the spot of those brilliant stones.
Alex: Are the stones ...oh, I'm sorry, Dad, I wasn't going to interrupt.
Dad: Just hold on, the story won't make sense if I don't tell it. Now, do you want me to tell the story, or just answer all your questions?
Alex: I'm sorry, Dad ...the story seems like a good one.
Dad: Well, he knew he wasn't supposed to be here, but he had gone this far. He is at the peak of this mountain, and he sees a passageway which must lead to where all those brilliant lights are coming from. The stones beneath his feet are fiery hot, but so is his pursuit ...he is almost to the spot of those brilliant stones.
Alex: Are the stones ...oh, I'm sorry, Dad, I wasn't going to interrupt.
Dad: Around the corner, and it hits him. The light is so brilliant that it blinds his sight. He shields his eyes, and lets his vision recover a bit before proceeding on. Even with his hand completely covering his eyes, he is able to tell where the light is originating from. He reaches out with his other hand, and gropes around until he feels the stone in his hand. It is hot, but he is able to grab it for a split second as he puts it in the bag hanging by his side under his wing.
Alex: He has wings?
Dad: Yes, he has wings ...you've heard of an angel haven't you?
Alex: I thought you were talking about Thanos.
Dad: No, I'm talking about an angel ...you've heard us mention Lucifer before. Now, back to the story ...each stone is big enough to fill his entire hand, and he fills his bag with them, still shielding his eyes, but switching hands so his hand has a chance to cool. Then when no more blinding light seems to be left, he slowly uncovers his eyes. No more brilliant light fills the mountain. He has all the colorful light stones in his bag, only the pervading white light remains ...and he hurries away, as he knows he will soon be found out if he lingers.
Alex: Did he get caught?
Alex: He has wings?
Dad: Yes, he has wings ...you've heard of an angel haven't you?
Alex: I thought you were talking about Thanos.
Dad: No, I'm talking about an angel ...you've heard us mention Lucifer before. Now, back to the story ...each stone is big enough to fill his entire hand, and he fills his bag with them, still shielding his eyes, but switching hands so his hand has a chance to cool. Then when no more blinding light seems to be left, he slowly uncovers his eyes. No more brilliant light fills the mountain. He has all the colorful light stones in his bag, only the pervading white light remains ...and he hurries away, as he knows he will soon be found out if he lingers.
Alex: Did he get caught?
Dad: Everything he did was known.
Alex: What happened then?
Dad: Well, there weren't as many questions as you are asking because the events and answers were known ...but, I guess it's okay if you ask questions. It's better than not being interested at all ...like some are. What happened next, you ask? Well, Lucifer began showing the others that he now had the lights ...that he was the light bearer. But, he only opened the bag ever so slightly to show the other angels, and kept it shielded by a wing, otherwise his location would reveal who had the stones.
Alex: But, I thought you said it was already known what he had done?
Dad: It was ...but, Lucifer didn't know that. But, he did know that he had done what he wasn't supposed to do. He didn't tell the other angels the truth of what he'd done, he was only concerned with somehow rallying their support ...seeing that he now had the stones. Persuading them to align themselves with who now had the power would be a bit more easy. Certainly many of the angels could be deceived by this.
Alex: What do you mean, deceived? Didn't Lucifer now have the power?
Dad: The stones had splendor and beauty, but they had no power. The power was held by the Creator of the stones, as well as everything else, including Lucifer and all the other angels. The power was with the Creator of everything.
Alex: What did the Creator do then?
Dad: The Creator waited until all the angels chose sides. Many of the angels followed Lucifer, but more than half of them didn't. The Creator had been forming oxygen this whole time within the interior of the stars. Most of the universe and stars were hydrogen and helium, but with the newly formed oxygen, the Creator joined the hydrogen with the oxygen to form water.
Alex: Are you trying to slip in a science lesson here ...because I know two hydrogen and an oxygen make water, and what's left is the helium. And helium doesn't burn, so all the light would be snuffed out.
Dad: Very good ...but, I wasn't going to go that far. But, since you are going to help me with the story, I guess it's best to go to what we already have.
Alex: What happened then?
Dad: Well, there weren't as many questions as you are asking because the events and answers were known ...but, I guess it's okay if you ask questions. It's better than not being interested at all ...like some are. What happened next, you ask? Well, Lucifer began showing the others that he now had the lights ...that he was the light bearer. But, he only opened the bag ever so slightly to show the other angels, and kept it shielded by a wing, otherwise his location would reveal who had the stones.
Alex: But, I thought you said it was already known what he had done?
Dad: It was ...but, Lucifer didn't know that. But, he did know that he had done what he wasn't supposed to do. He didn't tell the other angels the truth of what he'd done, he was only concerned with somehow rallying their support ...seeing that he now had the stones. Persuading them to align themselves with who now had the power would be a bit more easy. Certainly many of the angels could be deceived by this.
Alex: What do you mean, deceived? Didn't Lucifer now have the power?
Dad: The stones had splendor and beauty, but they had no power. The power was held by the Creator of the stones, as well as everything else, including Lucifer and all the other angels. The power was with the Creator of everything.
Alex: What did the Creator do then?
Dad: The Creator waited until all the angels chose sides. Many of the angels followed Lucifer, but more than half of them didn't. The Creator had been forming oxygen this whole time within the interior of the stars. Most of the universe and stars were hydrogen and helium, but with the newly formed oxygen, the Creator joined the hydrogen with the oxygen to form water.
Alex: Are you trying to slip in a science lesson here ...because I know two hydrogen and an oxygen make water, and what's left is the helium. And helium doesn't burn, so all the light would be snuffed out.
Dad: Very good ...but, I wasn't going to go that far. But, since you are going to help me with the story, I guess it's best to go to what we already have.
Alex: Can I read it?
Dad: That would be good, go ahead.
Alex: And the earth was without form, and void ...and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Dad: You found that rather quickly.
Alex: It was easy ...first Chapter. Now can I use some artistic license to continue the story a bit longer?
Dad: Sure ...every Dad should be well pleased to see his offspring take such an interest. Just as long as we know the difference between what the Bible does say, and what it doesn't.
Alex: Okay, I know the difference ...so, here goes my imagination. Before the Creator combined the hydrogen and oxygen and snuffed out all the light, a hand comes out of a cloud, and the hand grabs the bag from Lucifer ...the bag that had all the brilliant stones. And the hand got bigger and bigger so that it totally enclosed the bag in a fist. So, the Creator had all the stones back, then all the lights got snuffed out. But, when the light came back ...it was not the same light, it was light of the Creator. And when the land appeared, the fist came in a mist. Do you like my rhyme there?
Dad: A little bit will fit.
Alex: Cute, Dad ...anyway, the fist crushed the bag of stones and threw it down to the earth. And the fist grew larger, beyond comprehension ...and crushed the mountain where the stones had been. That fist withdrew, and another fist emerged out of a fog and sprinkled 'super seed' that grew like one would see with time lapse photography.
Dad: And what happened to Lucifer ...who tried to 'supersede' God?
Alex: You're so good with those words, Dad. Let's see, I haven't had much time to imagine my story ...oh, yes, Lucifer was thrown down to earth. And God split all that water ...changing it back to hydrogen and oxygen, and the force propelled it back into space in huge fiery trails of light, rejoining the helium. So, the stars were relit. Then God choreographed the rapid movement of atoms so fast, there appeared basic forms of moving creatures ...and then each one, after appearing to have been fully created, began to contort or reshape varying details within their structure to differentiate between others that had appeared the same, but in a twinkling of an eye had acquired unique traits. The Creator showed much creativity, as He had with the plants and their flowers.
Dad: Then what? Since you wanted to tell the story, what happens next?
Alex: Well, we humans were created ...though not with the beauty and splendor of the angels. Yet, we were created to appreciate the beauty and splendor of His creation, and the awesomeness of Himself, our Creator. There is much to imagine, but we are to plainly see that we were created in His image ...to know Him, and to believe the records of those who had been privileged to experience more of who He is.
Dad: And where does that leave us?
Alex: Perhaps enjoying some other stories in life, but mostly attempting to live according to His story.
(And later that same angel sneaks into the Garden to tempt the woman there ...in sort of the same way he had reasoned to improve his lot. Though he had lots to learn, as is the case for us also. Yet, it is easier to learn from the mistakes of others than to repeat every mistake ourselves.)
Dad: That would be good, go ahead.
Alex: And the earth was without form, and void ...and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Dad: You found that rather quickly.
Alex: It was easy ...first Chapter. Now can I use some artistic license to continue the story a bit longer?
Dad: Sure ...every Dad should be well pleased to see his offspring take such an interest. Just as long as we know the difference between what the Bible does say, and what it doesn't.
Alex: Okay, I know the difference ...so, here goes my imagination. Before the Creator combined the hydrogen and oxygen and snuffed out all the light, a hand comes out of a cloud, and the hand grabs the bag from Lucifer ...the bag that had all the brilliant stones. And the hand got bigger and bigger so that it totally enclosed the bag in a fist. So, the Creator had all the stones back, then all the lights got snuffed out. But, when the light came back ...it was not the same light, it was light of the Creator. And when the land appeared, the fist came in a mist. Do you like my rhyme there?
Dad: A little bit will fit.
Alex: Cute, Dad ...anyway, the fist crushed the bag of stones and threw it down to the earth. And the fist grew larger, beyond comprehension ...and crushed the mountain where the stones had been. That fist withdrew, and another fist emerged out of a fog and sprinkled 'super seed' that grew like one would see with time lapse photography.
Dad: And what happened to Lucifer ...who tried to 'supersede' God?
Alex: You're so good with those words, Dad. Let's see, I haven't had much time to imagine my story ...oh, yes, Lucifer was thrown down to earth. And God split all that water ...changing it back to hydrogen and oxygen, and the force propelled it back into space in huge fiery trails of light, rejoining the helium. So, the stars were relit. Then God choreographed the rapid movement of atoms so fast, there appeared basic forms of moving creatures ...and then each one, after appearing to have been fully created, began to contort or reshape varying details within their structure to differentiate between others that had appeared the same, but in a twinkling of an eye had acquired unique traits. The Creator showed much creativity, as He had with the plants and their flowers.
Dad: Then what? Since you wanted to tell the story, what happens next?
Alex: Well, we humans were created ...though not with the beauty and splendor of the angels. Yet, we were created to appreciate the beauty and splendor of His creation, and the awesomeness of Himself, our Creator. There is much to imagine, but we are to plainly see that we were created in His image ...to know Him, and to believe the records of those who had been privileged to experience more of who He is.
Dad: And where does that leave us?
Alex: Perhaps enjoying some other stories in life, but mostly attempting to live according to His story.
(And later that same angel sneaks into the Garden to tempt the woman there ...in sort of the same way he had reasoned to improve his lot. Though he had lots to learn, as is the case for us also. Yet, it is easier to learn from the mistakes of others than to repeat every mistake ourselves.)
