[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ0rkkbmgXQ&w=560&h=315] There are several things I like about this video of photographer Mattias Klum talking about his face-to-face encounter with a lioness. His observations on perspective are simply beautiful...from how he prefers to shoot (not in a jeep or in a stand but rather at ground level) to the interactions of him looking at the lioness and she looking at him. He is astute in his observation of "balance" as well as the once-in-a-lifetime moment with nature at its most vulnerable (exposing her belly!). The only thing I disagree with him about is his comment that anthropomorphism, when it comes to animals, "isn't reality." How is being aware of, or sensitive to, an animal's emotions any "less real" than being aware of, or sensitive to, another human's emotions? It's not. It's just that when we do that to humans, we call it empathy. I see no reason why we shouldn't extend the same courtesy to animals. What have we got to lose...besides 300 lions if we don't?

I promise you these five minutes are not a waste of your time...you will laugh, you will feel good inside, you will be rewarded. And maybe you'll feel blessed too.