I have this memory that when I was a child I used to be able to talk with animals — and that we could understand each other. I must have lost this gift over time because my cat Chloe acts as if she doesn’t understand one thing I say! Anyway, I have a great fondness for animals and, at the moment, am surrounded by 3 of them (plus miscellaneous convent spiders). I am cat sitting for a friend so her two girls, 
Sassy and Lucy, are having a slumber party here. As I type, the two cats are literally crawling all over me. All 20-lbs of Lucy are walking across my keyboard. Chloe is in the other room — she’s not all that pleased with the presence of other cats in her home, but she’s making do. When I go into the other room, she’ll express her disgust with the situation and then promptly sit on me.
It is an amazing thing to live with creatures and other living things like plants. It keeps one aware that it’s not all about onself nor about human beings. As fabulous as we are as humans, we can learn so much from the other creatures around us. Chloe, for example, happens to remind me of the great importance of tenderness — something which I’ve always valued but which I am reminded about on a daily basis now. In some strange way, I think this makes me a better person — being reminded daily of tenderness keeps that in the forefront of my mind and heart and, I hope, positively affects how I am throughout the day with the rest of creation — including my fellow human beings!
What have you learned from one of God’s creatures lately? Perhaps the patience of a rock or the perseverence of a salmon swimming upstream …
"She wrote the way she lived: on the fly, without retrospect, always on the way, climbing higher."
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Being a dog person, I am in awe at their acceptance. You could look like ten miles of bad road, with breath that could strip wallpaper, and a dog will consistently squirm and wag its tail and behave as if there was nothing better than seeing you once again, warts and all. No discussion of weight, religion, skin color, politics, only presence matters. Someone once said that dogs have such sad eyes because they pity humanity so much. Given how we often treat each other, especially “the others” among us, with disrespect, suspicion or outright apathy, they have much to pity.
Also, being a Franciscan, I should add that, like our father, St. Francis, I have often been driven to contemplation, wonder and joy because of Brother Sun, Sister Moon and every creature in between!
My cat Hobbes has taught me so much about love that sometimes I look at him and I am amazed at how much he has taught me over the last ten years. My cat Susie has taught me that she knows more about computers than I do; she is notorious for walking on the keyboard and changing things with the push of a paw or swat of a tail. Finally, my cat Calvin has taught me about faithfulness and how love can bind two beings, human or not.
I have to tell you that a couple of weeks ago, Duchess, the dog and Sam, the cat, shared time and space together on our bed. A sight for sore eyes because there are times I think they are not very fond of one another. Lesson learned…At any given moment, when you seem to have little or nothing in common with someone you still may find common ground. Thanks be to God!!
Having a small farm with horses and cows, and having grown up a farmboy, I see a great analogy between my life and the ways Jesus likened Himself to a “good shepherd”. I have learned through long experience that my animals are utterly dependent on me for their very lives and destiny. Every bite of food they receive comes from my hand and their protection is my sole responsibility. Over the years I have become more gentle and caring in my interactions with them because of this. When my animals are well fed and happy I too am happy and pleased. The old saying about “milk from contented cows” is true. One develops an innate sense of whether or not all is well with them or if there is some problem lurking. “I Know my sheep, and they know my voice…” The instant recognition I get from all of them on seeing me or hearing my voice is gratifying. My little flock of four footed parishioners…
As a firm believer in the golden rule, I try to have high standards about how I treat my animals. It forces me to reflect on my compassion for other creatures which helps make it more instinctual.
I also am contemplating bringing another cat into my world. My girl, Tasha, has been gone for 7 months now… and my boy, Sherlock, is bored and needs another in the house. And it’s time. But it’s a huge responsibility for the long term. 15 years of making decisions based on their health and welfare. I have often spent more a month on their food, upkeep and medical care than I have on my own. I have to leave the ‘big’ questions, such as. ‘how am I going to provide for a cat over 15 years’ alone and know that I will be taken care of, just as I am always been taken care of. Steps of Faith come in furry little packages too
I think if a person wants to learn what love is, they should get a rat. Seriously! I can’t think of a more devoted pet than a rat. Only downside is that they don’t live very long…
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