Best Friends

Last week some people from my MOM's church, our church, took a mission trip to this place in Kanb Utah.

They went to Best Friends Animal Society.  They did all kinds of things with all kinds of animals, from dogs and cats to birds, horses, goats and more.

They walk them, fed them, cleaned them, and most importantly they LOVED them

One of the people who went on the mission trip even adopted a dog.

I told MOM she could say a few things as I show a few more photos of the mission trip to help and care for all the different animals at Best Friends.

For most, our connection to the creaturely world comes exclusively through the companionship of those animal friends we call our pets. For the more politically correct animal advocates, "animal companion" is the preferred term, as it takes away the connotation of ownership. After all, do we really "own" our pets or do they own us? From my own experience I would vote for the latter option. We' re responsible for their food, shelter and veterinary care -- and to that extent are their keepers -- but truth be told, they "keep" us just as surely as we keep them, but they keep us through bonds of unconditional affection. We keep them through care and they keep us by loyalty.

By their companionship and their extravagant giving of affection whether we particularly deserve it or not, our animal companions also call us to a more morally conscious position in the world. Living with a pet puts us a little bit closer to what Albert Schweitzer called "reverence for life."

When we allow the beauty of species other than our own to really touch us in a spiritual way, we will inevitably come to understand why Mahatma Gandhi once remarked that the measure of a society' s morality could be measured by how they treat their animals. If we embraced the Native American spiritual practice of regarding animals as our relations, interacting with them mindfully, compassionately, prudently and compassionately, we would have less reason to blush.

Thanks MOM for sharing a few words of what I think are wise, but hey I'm your boy so I know you do have your moments of wisdom.  Love ya MOM, and I am grateful for all those people who took a week off work, brought all kinds of donations the Best Friends (not just money but all kinds of needed supplies), all so they could care for all my animal friends.  You guys are the BEST.

Blessings,

Goose