It’s reigning cats and dogs
Every now and then the editor generously allows me to give my mind a rest from trying to dream up something to write about and to head off into the wonders of cyberspace to capture and bring home to these pages something of interest that I really wish I had thought of in the first place.
Now, apart from St Francis of Assisi we don’t get to hear too much about religion and pets, so I found this particular story to be a wonderful example of mankind’s penchant for apathy and the psychology of the animal mind. It is the story of Adam and Eve’s pets.
Adam and Eve said: “Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any longer. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.”
And God said: “I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves.”
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said: “Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal.”
And God said: “I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a mirror image of my own name, and you will call him DOG.”
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said: “Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.”
And God said: “I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration.”
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat’s eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility. And they were greatly improved. And God was pleased. And Dog was happy and wagged his tail. And Cat didn’t care one way or the other…
Still on the subject of pets and church, here’s another interesting story from the National Geographic website.
At St Francis Episcopal (Anglican) church in Stamford, Connecticut, the pews are filled with some unlikely worshippers. Barks and purrs — or “prayer noises”, as the church calls them — can be heard during the afternoon celebration of the eucharist, in which people receive communion and pets a special blessing.
The half-hour service focuses on the special relationships people have with their animals, says Rev Mark Lingle.
“At our church there are a number of people who are single or who have lost a loved one, and their pet is one of their primary relationships,” he said.
The church’s special service is part of a growing movement among places of worship, says National Geographic, some of which not only recognise the human-animal bond but offer pet owners support and services almost unheard of a decade ago.
In addition to special blessings or regular church services, these places hold private pet memorials or burials and offer grief counselling to comfort members whose pets have died.
Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels of Beth Shir Sholom, a progressive reform Jewish synagogue in Santa Monica, California, says that when a pet dies, owners suffer the same grief as they would over the loss of a human.
For years he has made condolence calls or visits with members of his congregation whose pets have died. And after each service he says a prayer for members mourning the loss of an animal or human.
Anyone who is an animal lover must surely agree entirely with the good rabbi. I do—even though cats hate me.
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