Ask the Animals: Spiritual Wisdom from All God's Creatures

Ask the Animals: Spiritual Wisdom from All God's Creatures

"Ask the animals" Job says, "and they will teach you; the birds of the air and they will tell you . . . who among you does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" From the humpback whale, who offers a glimpse into God's mystery; to the elephant, who models God's fiercely protective love and compassion; to the blackbird, who opens our eyes to the song of joy that sings through the cosmos, the animal kingdom is a treasure trove of images of our Creator. In this beautifully illustrated collection of essays, readers will find surprising connections and much food for thought. Ask the Animals is a wonderful resource for private devotion or group study. Elizabeth Canham, an Episcopal priest and native of England, is the author of Heart Whispers and Journaling with Jeremiah. She is director of the Hospites Mundi spirituality center in North Carolina. Ask The Animals Spiritual Wisdom From All God's Creatures By Elizabeth J. Canham Church Publishing, Inc. Copyright © 2006 Elizabeth J. Canham All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8192-2232-9 Contents AcknowledgmentsPrefaceMYSTERY: God's PlaymatesFAITH: What's the Buzz?HOPE: Don't Fence Me InLOVE: If You Want to Keep Your Head—Wear a HatHUMILITY: Little Things Mean a LotDISCIPLINE: Desirable RealtyWILDNESS: God Is Not TameHABITAT: The Three Bears—and MommaDANCE: High Wire ActANGER: Snap JudgmentsSTUCK-NESS: Silly GooseCOMPASSION: Gentle GiantsFEAR: Tail of a Scaredy CatPLAY: Now You See Them, Now You Don'tFLEXIBILITY: Snake DanceTRUST: Gee–upTRUTH: Caws They CanWISDOM: Comings and GoingsLAUGHTER: Monkey BusinessCREATIVITY: Wonder WebsATTENTIVENESS: Paws for PrayerGRACE: Psalms of the Salt MarshLOSS: Seeing RedLETHARGY: Narcotic NapsDILIGENCE: Outback High RiseCOMPANIONSHIP: Big BenJOY: Singin' in the RainSOLITUDE: Red Riding Hood Got It Wrong.INGENUITY: Two Lovely Black EyesHOMECOMING: Veldt Vespers CHAPTER 1 Mystery God's Playmates The Hebrew Scriptures begin with a great panorama that catches our imaginationand takes our breath away. We come into being in deep, dark chaos over which theSpirit of God broods, waiting to give birth. The first dawn breaks as theCreator sends a wind over the void and Light comes to give definition to day andnight. And God sees that it is good. Then the gift of water flows, its powerharnessed as plants, trees, and living creatures of earth, air, and ocean danceinto view. Again, God observes that it is good. The finale celebrates thedecision of God to create beings that reflect the divine image, and it is tothem that the Creator entrusts care for all that has come to be. We look withGod at everything that has been made, and indeed, it is very good (Genesis1:31). The story of creation plunges us into Mystery. The narrative invites our wonderand our worship, our joy and celebration of the interconnected web that is theuniverse—beyond our understanding but not beyond our imagination. When I readthis narrative, I imagine myself in a darkened theater, waiting breathlessly forthe curtain to rise, overwhelmed by the beauty, majesty, and amazing creativityof God as scene after scene is played out. The final chorus brings us to ourfeet as a standing ovation goes on and on—it is all good, indeed, very good. Weclose our Bibles, leave the drama, and go outside with regret that the end hascome—only to discover that Creation is all around us to remind us constantly ofGod's very good work. Rain falls, then the sun comes out; birds sing and treesblossom; otters play in the river and the dog leaps with barks of ecstasy tocelebrate our homecoming. Indeed, it is very good. Mystery is all around us and at the heart of our own being, but we become soaccustomed to what is around us that we fail to see and be filled with awe—anywhere,not just in places of scenic wonder. For several years I lived in atiny apartment in New York City where the early-morning sounds were garbagetrucks rumbling down the street, a far cry from the birdsong I had learned tolove. At first, I resented the absence of natural beauty, but soon learned tonotice the amazing resilience of the earth and the presence of creatures,including the ubiquitous cockroaches. I felt my heart lighten one morning as Istood at a gridlocked intersection where the sound of curses and car hornsfilled the air and, looking up, noticed a row of pigeons perched on the long armof a traffic signal from which they observed the human chaos. Were they laughingat us? They certainly invited my gratitude and taught me to "lighten up" andrise above the dust and debris that polluted my sense of wonder. The sidewalkwhere I waited to catch the downtown bus was buckled where weeds had pushedthrough the concrete, offering a powerful image of creation's victory inoppressive circumstances. Even inside my apartment, I had plants and flowers anda collection of natural objects to help me pray through the distractions of citylife. That morning was one of those occasions when we experience My