Why Do I Collect Rhinos?

People often ask

me about my fixation

on rhinos and

why I collect them.

This whole thing started about 30 years ago. A woman walked into my church office with a large calendar photo of a rhinoceros. Because I was the Business Administrator, she thought it was appropriately humorous. On the photo was a caption that said something about being the “Hard Nose” on the finance committee. I was humored by her sarcastic amusement so I tacked it on my office wall. Not long afterward I designed some notepads with a line drawing of a rhino’s head and the caption, “A Note From the Hard Nose.”

Pretty soon, people started giving me all kinds of rhino “stuff” for Christmas, birthdays, or whenever they found something. That was the beginning of my large “crash” which had grown to over 1000 sculptures, figurines, toys, collectibles, photos, posters, framed art, pens, jewelry, books, stuffed animals, clothing, and coffee mugs. In addition, I have hundreds of graphics that I have downloaded from the internet many of which I post here on this blog.

When I told someone I collected rhinos, she was curious about why I would choose to love something so ugly. Until then, I really hadn't thought much about their ugliness, but over time I have developed an affinity for them and I have learned to see beauty in their strength, uniqueness, and special design that many people don’t appreciate.

And when I look at them, I am reminded of God’s love for me.  He sees beyond the ugliness of my sin and chooses to love me anyway.