Dogs, Cats, and Creation

Dear Mommy Park,

Thank you for inquiring about whether dogs, cats, and all other animals go to heaven. As I told Megs, I am less concerned with the future understanding of heaven. I think we need to be talking about heaven and hell on earth. Because let me tell you, these are realities now. Anytime someone experiences love, kindness, and forgiveness it is heaven. And anytime someone knows of despair or poverty or deep loss, it is hell. No one can change my mind on those facts. 

So, are animals experiencing heaven and hell on earth? Yes. Let's look at the increased number of puppy mills that are being shut down because of lack of food, health care, and...well, love. Then I remember pet adoption, and this is mercy and justice for animals. 

I could talk about humane ways of killing animals for food. I don't know if you want me to address this. I am not a vegetarian for these reasons, but I think it is something we need to consider. Not just how we end their lives for our nourishment, but we must be critical about what we feed them and inject them with. Eggs are not meant to be this big. Chickens are not meant to be so bulky. And cows are maturing too fast for my comfort. 

My tradition, as a Methodist, calls for me to go on toward perfection. That is a big concept with lots of baggage. Nevertheless, it call me to perfectly love God, neighbor, and creation. Creation is an addition to the normal equation. It is an addition that we must examine because we need it to sustain us...and our crazy lifestyles that we are accustomed to. So, I am going on toward perfection. However you want to understand that. But it does call me radically love God, neighbor, and creation in the most life giving ways. That includes animals. That most defiantly includes animals. And if we can't give them heaven on earth, what does the future matter? The after life? Nothing. 

I am not a fan of calling myself an overseer or a caretaker like the normal Genesis model. We are equal creations in the plan of God. And as creatures, we must respect and love one another equally. We are neighbors on this earth. Neighbors, I say. Does your dog provide you nourishment? Do you provide your dog nourishment? Body, mind, and heart. Heaven in a new way. Heaven in an important way. Heaven on earth, too. 

Every (good) argument requires evidence. So I offer these reflections from others:

1. Words from the thoughtful theologian, John Wesley on the restoration of nature:

The whole brute of creation will then, undoubtedly, be restored, not only to the vigour, strength, and swiftness which they had at their creation, but to a far higher degree of each than they ever enjoyed. They will be restored, not only to that measure of understanding which they had in paradise, but to a degree of it as much higher than that, as the understanding of an elephant is beyond that of a worm. And whatever affections they had in the garden of God, will be restored with vast increase; being exalted and refined in a manner which we ourselves are not able to comprehend. The liberty they then had will be completely restored, and they will be free in all their motions.

2. The words of honest hymns: 

All Creatures of Our God and King

Let all things their Creator bless,

and worship him in humbleness,

O praise him, Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

and praise the Spirit, Three in One

All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir

Some sing low, some sing higher 

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire 

And some just clap their hands, or paws, 

or anything they got.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big to-do
The old cow just goes MOOOOO

The dog and the cat pick up the middle
While the honey bee hums and the cricket fiddles
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
And the old coyote howls

It's a simple song of livin' sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear
Grumpy alligator and the hawks above
Sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

3. In the Tradition of St. Francis of Assisi: 

A Litany and Blessing of All Creatures

Gracious God, you created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.  You love the whole world – the sunshine and the rain that refresh the weary earth, the outgoings of the morning and the evening, the changing seasons, the plants that grace the earth and the animals that inhabit it. You have given us responsibility both to love and keep the earth clean and fresh that it might rightly reflect your grandeur.  We confess that we often fail to see your purpose and are blinded by selfish pursuits.  We mar this planet by our indifference and insensitivity.  Forgive us, we pray, and help us to change our destructive habits that we may be channels of your goodness. We give thanks to you, O God, for the life and witness of all those who have nurtured the earth – for prophets who remind us of our responsibility, for those who with tenderness minister to all things living, for those who bring their healing touch to the creatures of your hand. Just as God planted a garden in Eden full of blessings, the very Garden of God grows around us here, in other tended green spaces, in farms and gardens which are the source of our sustenance, in forests and in fields.  These plants speak to us in worship and live in God’s Word and world. Release your blessing today on all who stop here and rest.  May they hear you calling deep in their hearts.  Pour out your life to all of the plants and microbes, insects, and worms, and gardeners who together with you weave a tapestry of life in this space and throughout creation. We give thanks to you, O God, for animals who live in our homes, on farms, in the wild and in havens of refuge.  Make us ever aware of our responsibility to these, your creatures, who in so many ways bless us.  Help us to be faithful in caring for them.We remember before you in the silent and deep places of our hearts those animals that have died, but have been special and dear to us.  At this time, may we also remember the animals that are lost, or somehow separated from their owners.  We pray for animals that are in captivity, are pursued, hunted, deserted, abused or exploited.  Make us sensitive to their needs, to protect and guard these creatures that they may sleep in peace and know the joy of loving care. Open our eyes to see any suffering that befalls a part of your creation, open our ears to hear their cry.  Open our hearts to their cause and our hands to their need.  Open our mouths to their defense, and above all, O God, open our lives to your ways.

O God, maker of all, we ask your blessing on every creature gathered here today. May they live peacefully in praise of you. Bless us all to love your creation, and revere its sacredness. We ask this blessing in the name of the one who was, is, and will always be, our Creator, to whom every creature belongs.  AMEN.  

On earth, as in heaven...

BEAT