The Bungee Cord  10-19-20

Hello,

 

Yesterday afternoon, the Rector from a nearby Episcopal church and I gathered with a varied group in the town park.  I say “varied” because the group was not only comprised of people, it was also comprised of pets (all dogs and one brave cat).  The reason for the gathering was to continue a long held tradition of “The Blessing of the Animals” around the day that we remember St. Francis, an animal lover and blesser.

 

Some of the people and their pets were from our two respective churches, but others had come because they saw the announcement in the local newspapers.  One such person brought her aged Bulldog, who in talking with her I found out that he was dealing with an inoperable tumor and his days were limited.  Another family, mom and dad and a elementary son,  brought their German Shepherd mix dog who had just undergone significant surgery. An older couple brought a smaller dog of unknown breeds who they had recently rescued from a shelter.  Others brought their dogs who had been wonderful companions and friends.  And one person brought her cat, secured by a leash, who had become part of her life this spring.

 

After a general service of blessing, each animal was escorted to the Rector or myself, and when they arrived the animal was individually blessed.  Always asking the name of the animal, and making sure it would welcome a stranger to pet it, I would put my hand on the animals head and say, “Lord God, watch over “Charlie” with your grace and mercy, and watch over those who care for him.”

 

As you can imagine by my description of our crowd, some of the blessings were met with tears.  And smiles.  

 

As I participated in this blessing event, I couldn’t help but see that even in the midst of all of the chaos and turmoil, isolation and dismay God slides blessings into our lives. Blessings that come from the companionship of animals who often exhibit unconditional love better than humans.  

 

In these Covid days where the big and grand blessings have had to take cover for a while, I have found the manifold smaller blessings from God to come out from under the leaves. Pets.  A call from a friend.  A walk in the woods.  A song. Sunsets.  Gentle winds and falling leaves.

 

This morning I woke up before my wife and went down to our lower level where our dog, MacMahon sleeps (we tried having him sleep upstairs with us, which proved to be no sleep for us). As usual, he is patiently waiting for one of us to take down the gate that guards the stairs.  His patience is not long lived, though.  Springing to exuberance, he bounds up the stairs, heads to the front door, and makes circles as if chasing his tail until I can reach the door. I can barely get the door cracked open when he lurches out the door and in one leap flies down the 5 stairs, and heads off full steam to the front of our hill top (where he is met by the underground fence).  Then he abruptly turns around and sprints around our detached garage, and before you know it he is back at the front door, more than ready to eat his breakfast and take on the day.

 

If there was a reminder of the verse from Scripture, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”, more vivid than exhibited by my dog, MacMahon, I have seen few.  Thanks be to God during these days of Covid drudgery for the blessing of MacMahon’s witness to me today!

 

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger