Capybaras, God and the Power of Peace ...by Sr. Anna-Camille

I’ve been thinking about capybaras quite a bit lately. Ever since I first read about them and their gentleness and friendliness, I can’t get enough of them. If you aren’t familiar with them here are some of their vital statistics. They are a rodent, as it turns out they are the largest of the rodent family: weighing in at up to 174 pounds and growing to over 4 feet long. They are strictly vegetarians, eating up to 13 pounds of veggies a day. Given that I count a day as successful when my veggie intake is a carrot, I find this almost unbelievable. They are amphibious, being able to hold their breath underwater for up to 5 minutes. They can sleep on land or in water, which is a good thing as they sleep for up to 15 hours a day. Now that I understand.

Whether you think they look adorable or not depends on the angle from which their picture is taken. The wrong angle (head on) gives the impression that they are just a lot of giant teeth, the best angle (from the side, at a little distance) and they look plump and cuddly, add in a few baby capybara and you have a major cuteness overload.

As spirit animals they embody peace, community, adaptability and balance. It is, especially the peace and community values that I resonate with. The capybara is also seen as a symbol of peaceful coexistence. They are incredibly social and thrive within groups, serving as a reminder of the importance of community and collaboration. Their serenity in the face of various challenges symbolizes adaptability and emotional stability. Capybaras are deeply connected to nature and water, this connection symbolizes emotional fluidity and the ability to go with the flow, even when life becomes turbulent.

Capybara sunning with crocs

I have seen a lot of pictures of capybaras peacefully resting side-by-side with every kind of animal, including humans. When I first saw a photo of a capybara surrounded in the middle of a sand bank by sunbathing crocodiles I checked to see if it was AI generated (it wasn’t). In South America they are called the ‘taxis of the forest,’ as they will give a ride to any creature that hops on board. Not because they are oblivious, but simply because they can and they are neither afraid nor unfriendly.

Capy Taxi!

I have seen many pictures of capybaras resting peacefully beside, in the lap of, or tucked under the chin, of men, women and children. They aren’t tamed or taught to do this; they just do it as part of their nature. There is a coffee shop in Florida where you can make a reservation to spend time with capybaras. They are always full.

Capy-Cat cuddles...

For me, they have become the symbol of God’s peaceable kingdom. There is something about the idea and image of the peaceable kingdom that I find especially appealing in these turbulent and anything but peaceful times. God’s dream for us as a human family is lives lived in peace and community. There is a verse in the psalms about God searching Earth for an image of God’s self in us. I think as it gets harder and harder to find this image of God in us, God can find such an image in the humble capybara. I have come to understand at a deeper level how important it is, in addition to praying for peace and working for peace, to actually be peace, a peaceful presence, to those around me. I wish I were more successful but I continue to grow into this, and the capybara is my inspiration.