I’ve had quite a few dogs over the years, all special and much-loved, but
none as special to me as Cole, the Scottish Terrier I adopted as a rescue in
December 2007.
He’d been badly abused the first six years of his life and was very
defensive and protective when I brought him home. But over time he learned that
his new home was a safe place, a place of love, patience and acceptance. It was
almost a year before he let me pet him. In time, his true nature blossomed as a
curious, intelligent, energetic, squirrel-obsessed (of course!) and very loving
dog.
When Cole died in early February after a brief illness, I was filled with
grief – and I still am. But I am so grateful that he and I found each other.
The bumper sticker that asks, “Who rescued who?” is so true – he took care of
me as much as I took care of him.
What a wonderful gift God has given us in gracing us with all creatures
great and small. Dogs, cats, birds, horses – the many animals we have as pets –
as well as the many animals that fill God’s creation, from the eagles soaring
through the sky, to the whales that ply the oceans, to the elephants that roam
the savannas of Africa: they are all God’s creatures and, as the Bible teaches
us, they are all good. As the psalmist wrote so long ago, “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In
wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (Psalm
104:24)
The cherry trees will soon blossom, heralding
the arrival of spring and drawing our every sense to marvel at the beauty of
God’s creation. Spring is the season of renewal and rebirth, and it is the
ideal time for us to recommit ourselves anew to our calling to care not only
for all God’s creatures, but for all God’s creation. Spring is the ideal time
for us to remember that when God created the Garden of Eden, God “took the
man and put him in the garden to till it and keep it.” Our first calling was to be the caretaker of God’s creation, stewards of
all that had come came from the hand of God.
And it is our calling still. I agree with Pope
Francis, who said recently, “nurturing and cherishing creation is a command God
gave us at the beginning of history”, for “the earth is the Lord’s and all
that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
So as you welcome spring, rejoice in all God’s
creatures and sing with the psalmist of the glory of God’s creation: “Let
the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field
exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for
joy.” (Psalm 96)
Grace & peace,
Pastor Skip
