Calling in Nature
3rd generation Unitarian Minister Ralph Waldo Emerson left parish ministry reporting his conscience prevented him from performing the ritual of communion understood in doctrine of transubstantiation. He said that we could commune with the divine directly in nature. Many of us experience in nature a profound sense of holiness or interconnection. Let us create together a remembering of ourselves as part of a larger community beyond the homo sapiens species. Which plant or creature came into your view, or treated your ears with life? What tree, flower, bird or four legged creature gifted you with a moment of awakening this week? To give us a moment of that wonder, let’s hear one sentence, one phrase, one word, the name of a tree, flower, or bird.
Intro to “All creatures”
Preparing for our service, Hymn #203 “All Creatures of the Earth and Sky” came to my mind immediately. Listening to it I longed for a more explicit mention of animals. I expressed this and asked a dear friend to write me lyrics just for this service. I didn’t dream she would do it. In 5 minutes or so, she had completed the task.
In a former church life, she knew this hymn as “All Creature of our God and King.” A bit of a witch and lover of felines, she changed the first line to All Creatures of Bast our Queen. Francis and our Goddess salon are familiar with this best known Egyptian goddesses, often depicted as a cat.
As a religious liberal group we recognize that many cultures have expressed the Great Mystery of an order far bigger than us and bigger than our understanding. No allegiance or belief in Bast or any deity is required to sing this hymn.
We will sing the first verse from #203 in the grey hymnal. Then we will shift and sing the lyrics, 3 verses printed in your order of service.
Please rise in body or in spirit.
Milestones of Joy and Sorrow
Today we will have an opportunity to contribute to Freeman Fritz No Kill Shelter. You may know that our very own Baxter operates a llama rescue. Of course with help from her husband Don and several volunteers. And we know we have other members who do animal rescue. Baxter could not attend today because their SW Llama Rescue is eagerly awaiting some new baby llamas. Now we’re eager too!
Member Amy Saxon Bosworth received word this week of the death of her much beloved Uncle Leon. Amy has had several losses this year. If you get to know her, you may find she is a hugger. In any event she is grateful for the companionship she experiences here.
3- ?
If you wish to share the name of someone that is in your thoughts and or prayers, and you want to place them into our circle of care, ..in a moment, I will gesture as an invitation to do so. (gesture)
..Spirit of life, love and community may this congregation ever be a source of comfort, support and strength to those in need. We affirm our intention to give witness to healing power, the mystery of life and death and the miracle of the love that gives it all meaning.
POEM ST. John of the Cross
I was sad one day and went for a walk;
I sat in a field.
A rabbit noticed my condition and came near.
It often does not take more than that to help at times—
to just be close to creatures who
are so full of knowing, so full of love that they
don’t chat, they just gaze with their marvelous
understanding.
MEDITATION
I would like to invite us to experience some moments of relaxation, stillness, settling, meditation.
Settle into the peace of this sanctuary. Close your eyes if that might help you to be still. All week we labor for our sustenance, and we make efforts to shape our world. Right now, we have some time for rest. We can be time to meet ourselves right where we are. In this moment, there is nothing that needs to be done, no situation that needs our attention.
Let us bring our attention to our breath. When we breathe in we will breathe in peace. When we breathe out we will breathe out love. With every breath we affirm the wonder of life unfolding right here now.
We are beings with bodies. We bring our attention to our body. We bring curiosity and compassion to whatever we find with us in this moment. If we notice discomfort, whether physical, mental, emotional, bring to it a gentle response, patience, care.
We may experience a sensation of warmth arising in us. From whatever peace we find or tune into this morning, we can playfully, gently and with ease begin to warm up our imagination for good end. We affirm our abilities to imagine and to remember. I invite you now to use these abilities to bring into your mind, a pet or animal friend. Take a moment to experience and maybe express gratitude and appreciation for this friend.
Now think of one thing that delights you to remember about this creature. How do they express themselves? Picture them as you picture them, calm, excited, seated, laying down or moving about. What is one thing that characterizes them. What do you love about how they are or were? What is one word that expresses how you have been blessed by them?
Now notice how you feel in your body. Remember this. You will be able to come back here anytime you wish.
Bring your attention back to your breathing. Inhale and exhale. As you prepare to bring your attention back into this room, feel your body resting on the chair. Feel your skin and your muscles. When you hear the sound of the chime you may open your eyes. Feel free to stretch as you need.
Testimony “Lucky Animals, Lucky Me” by June Hartley
Remembrance
1- Janet (?)will light a memory candle.
2- “I invite anyone who has had a pet death in their family in the past year to stand now. – in body or spirit. “
3- “I invite this group to call out the names of their departed pets.”
4- “I invite anyone else who wishes to stand to remember a deceased pet.”
5-“I invite this group to call out your deceased pet’s names.”
6- “I invite anyone else who wishes to stand in body or spirit as an act of solidarity with congregation members in mourning.“
7Ending/Blessing: “You came into our lives and we remember you with joy, sorrow and gratitude. You have blessed our lives and we thank you.
Sermon
Why are you screaming?
What did I do wrong?
Why are you crying?
How can I make it right?
Would you like it in another color?
Would you like it in a different size?
Would you like it in a different room?
I just wanted to show my love
I just wanted to express my thanks
I just wanted to put a dead mouse on your sheets
Now you are screaming
And I don’t know how to make you stop
A German Shepherd, Doberman and a cat have died.
All three are faced with God who wants to know what they believe in.
The German shepherd says: “I believe in discipline, training and loyalty to my master.”
“Good,” says God. “Come sit down on my right side.
Doberman, what do you believe in?”
The Doberman answers: “I believe in the love, care and protection of my master.”
Ah,” said God. “You may sit to my left.”
Then he looks at the cat and asks, “And what do you believe in?”
The cat answers: “I believe that you are in my seat.”
…
Gee I wish I had a cat to take my seat, and put dead mice in my sheets! You know I am continuing my streak; the white guy talking about black resilience, the man talking about internalized sexism, the Jew giving the Easter message of resurrecting Jesus. Now I, having no pets, am officiant of our Animals of Blessing service. (gesture)
It’s a good thing that you don’t expect me to deliver the ultimate or supreme truth, divine commandments and scripture to direct your every move. I get to facilitate; raise some questions, initiate conversation, ask you to reflect on what is important. Today, I feel no pressure to raise deep questions. The depth has been given to us already. Thank you David, Stephanie, Vicki and June for your stories and reflections. Thank you Mary Oliver, St. John of the Cross, and Walt Whitman for poetry.
Just the same I like to ask questions. I will use my position as the odd man out, the one who hasn’t had a pet in years, to ask you “why do you do it?”
You know what I mean? It’s like Man of La Mancha where Dulcinea asks Sancho why he follows Don Quixote. “Why do you do it? She asks. What’s in it for you?!”
And all Sancho can say is “I like him. I really like him.”
People often tell me I should get a cat or dog. I stay up too late too often, and do not wish to get up to take the dog for a walk or feed a cat at some ungodly hour. Besides, I’ve been a landlord. I’ve seen what pets do, including so called well trained dogs. I know what happens when its cold or wet outside. Your dog is like “yeah I think I’ll just go behind the couch.”
Last year I volunteered all 18 days at the Kerrville Folk Festival. I worked the morning shift in the kitchen, came to my church office for a few hours and went back for dinner and a show. There is no room in that schedule for a pet. I go to San Antonio two days each week. I go from place to place. I don’t see a pet fitting in to that. And bottom line, I barely manage to take care of myself. I should add to my load pet responsibilities?!
So I give you “Little stray cat” by Author Unknown
Oh what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to our gate.
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth and food.
From that day on,
I ceased to be the
Master of my own destiny.
While she with purr and velvet claw
Became within our house, the Law
She scratched the furniture and shed
She claimed the middle of our bed.
She ruled with arrogance and pride,
And she broke my heart the day she died.
So if you think little cat, that I
Would willing relive all of that,
Well… don’t stand there,
Come on in.
I’m not really so removed from the experiences we are celebrating today. I too have been blessed to love and be loved by many animals. When I asked “what’s in it for you? I was playing. I don’t have to tell you the sacrifices, the costs, the work that it takes to have a pet. The person in the poem “Little Stray Cat” might have upon occasion spoken of cursed feline tyranny. As the poem ends, the author voluntarily signs on to serve another 9 lives.
“What’s in it for you?” can be a useful question. We are here today to reflect on the good reasons we choose to have animals in our lives. In the meditation, I asked you to conjure the qualities, the gifts, the blessings bestowed on you by a pet or animal companion. There is always something in it for us, always some reason we do what we do, some need that we strive to fulfill by our every action.
You articulated gifts received; companionship, play, inspiration, laughter, affection, learning, and greater than all of these, love. June who has clearly rescued her share of animals knew that her dogs and cats were lucky she chose to rescue them. And she continued that she was luckier still.
This is exactly the sentiment expressed by volunteers who serve needs for youth, elders, prisoners, or anyone affected by adversity everywhere in this land. I have expressed as much about getting to be a volunteer in prisons in New York and Washington. Prisoners were consistently grateful for those of us who brought them classes, programs and workshops. My colleagues and I often said that we received more than we could ever give.
When treated as such, caring for an animal is a great honor and opportunity. Bonds of love and loyalty, these sweeten the deal!
George Graham Vest, before serving as a US senator from Missouri, was one of the most popular orators of his time. As a trial lawyer, he spoke eloquently about what a dog can mean to someone. He said: “The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.”
Given the love that they bestow upon us, how can we not love them too? So, it’s hard to watch their body’s fail. I have gained an appreciation of the veterinarian’s task of euthanasia. Often people anguish with deciding when it’s time. Sometimes a pet seems to be near the end, then recovers to live another good year or two more. My friend’s dog Ellie was like that. She had hip dysplasia. When Ellie could no longer walk down steps, my friend Stephanie carried her down and up three steps several times a day. And Ellie was a big dog! It looked like love to me!
I don’t want to over romanticize suffering. We know that it doesn’t always go storybook, or even well. And yet sometimes difficult situations can bring out of us, a love that we would have never imagined.
Such love can lead us to outgrow our fears. Such love can carry us beyond the limitations of ego. Some say it is the purpose for which we were born. Many different spiritual traditions point to this kind of learning. Wisdom is written into each of the world’s holy books. And yet some of us need experience to teach us. We need teachers with flesh and bone, or fur and bone. They need not have a high IQ to enlighten us.
They are not human, and yet show us how to be. We have spoken today of the blessings they bestow upon us. With faith in revelation’s continuance, let us resolve to keep learning. With appreciation of animals who bless us, we can continue an abundant flow of blessings. As students of compassion, we will learn alongside our animal companions. We will give to them and receive from them, joy and fulfillment beyond measure. Blessed are those who provide care for our four legged brothers and sisters. Blessed are those who respect all our relations. These shall enter into our beloved community.
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