4th October – St Francis Day and Blessing of Pets

[A random selection of my dog, a goat and other dogs. ]

Today is Francis of Assisi day. The saint who was supposed to put animals in high regard. It is also around this time that many churches have services that bless pets – where people can bring their pets to church and thank God for them. [There was one with the church I co-run the youth group at but I was too lazy to go!]

Our pets are amazing. Where would we be without that unconditional love? that greeting when we get home? the hugs just when we need them? the adoringness? Or as I write this the loud snoring of my little dog under my chair and the loud scratching of the cat who doesn’t want to be missed out!

Because of dog walking I have made so many friends since moving up here. I potter round the park and say hello to some I have known just on the park for years, some who have become closer friends that I go to coffee and lunch with. My dog has open the door to friendships.

Did you know that when Mozart’s father died he hardly grieved him because they didn’t get on well [I understand that from my own father’s death] but when his pet starling died he had a funeral and a wake for it? Again I totally understand that. He had lost a being that he could interact with, that was there for him, that he had built a bond with.

Someone once asked me if there would be animals in heaven and I had to say I couldn’t not imagine it being heaven without them. Why? Because I cannot imagine God would have had mankind create such an amazing bond with animals for them to not be in heaven.

My daughter once helped out with the Cats Protection League and the way those older women cared for those cats was amazing. If we could all care for our fellow humans in that same way then there would be no more wars, etc. Although I was listening to a podcast today about how the opposite of Love isn’t hate but fear. Fear then leads to Shame which leads to Control which cycles round to Fear again and so the circle tightens. So humankind is fearful of others humans and so seeks to control them by wars, etc. So maybe there is something else involved here that I might explore in another post!

Anyway I digress!

Today let’s celebrate the animals in our lives whether they are our pets, someone else’s pets or the wonderful birds, squirrels and others creatures in the wild. Thank you God for all creatures great and small.

Just as I wrote that last bit two Magpies just settled in the tree opposite and the man who was picking weeds from his lawn just stopped and lazed up at them. And as we all know from the rhyme “One for sorrow, Two for joy”. So I pass onwards to you the joy of those two magpies.