In Africa there is a species of bird that has learned how to work symbiotically with humans.

(Side note: The word “species” is both singular and plural. “Specie” refers to coin money.)

The bird is a honeyguide. Honeyguides use beeswax. Honeyguides don't like to be stung by bees any more than people do, so they have learned how to use people to do the dirty work.

Somewhere along the line a honeyguide observed people raiding a bees' nest. After the people had finished gathering the honey, the bird noticed that they'd left beeswax all around. Thereafter when that bird wanted beeswax it went to the people village and did its best to get their attention. Eventually one man noticed the bird and wondered why it was acting as it was. He followed as it led him through the woods. The honeyguide led him to a bee tree that it knew about.

From this single event that took place perhaps hundreds or thousands of years ago honeyguides and their descendants learned that they could use humans to help them get beeswax. Humans learned that they could use honeyguides to help them find honey.

It all began when one person stopped to listen to the voice of a single bird. No one else noticed that small voice in the trees. No one else paid attention. It was a voice that was always there, but which was routinely ignored as having no relevance.

The memory of that man who took notice and followed the bird is lost in history, but he taught his friends and descendants to listen, and to take heed, to what the insistent voice in the trees was trying to tell them. Now people listen for that small voice and benefit thereby.

This story is very much like listening for the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. The voice is always there, and one benefits when one listens.

Orcas, or killer whales, in a bay in Australia developed a similar symbiotic relationship with whalers. While their pod harassed and wore out the whale, one or two others went to alert the whalers. The whalers followed the orcas, killed the whale, and then allowed the orcas to eat the whale's tongue, which was apparently an orca delicacy.

That symbiotic relationship went on for years until some settlers killed two orcas. The orcas realized that men could not be trusted, and left.

The Holy Ghost is like that. It's there to help, but leaves when the trust is broken.