Annie

     Sometimes my breath is taken away in a  moment of connection between an animal and myself.  Often the animal's connection to God goes unnoticed by us humans.   This Thanksgiving, I want to especially give thanks for the gifts that were showered on me from the moment that Annie entered into our lives. 

     Almost 12 years ago I came home from work to hear a message on the answering machine from our beloved veterinarian about a sweet little dog that he had down at his office.  You see, 8 months before our sweet Harmony had died.  We knew we wanted another dog, primarily for David (then 12) but I didn't think we were ready.  Eight days earlier this little dog was brought into Eric's ofice to be put down as she had parvo.  Eric thought he could save her and save her he did.

     When David came home from school we went to the clinic to meet 7 week-old Annie.  This tiny brown and black, scrawny, shaved legged animal captured our hearts.  She looked as if she had a mask on so we thought maybe she had some Husky in her.  Whatever line her blood originated from, this survivor was already gifting us with kisses.  She survived and had much to give.

     Four weeks ago Annie let go of this life that she had survived to be in.  She had been with us for almost 12 years.  We found out the night before she died that she was a “walking time bonb.”  Annie had tumors that could rupture at any moment.  After many tears with Eric, Annie and I came home to wait for David.  It was difficult to let this news sink in that night as Annie felt so good.  She greeted David, her closest buddy, as always.  Unbeknownst to her or to us, she had only a few hours to live.  She begged for food, licked us profusely, and laid her beautiful heavy head on  my lap as usual.  It was a good evening even though David and I were tentative.

     A call came in to me from David the next day during staff meeting.  As soon as I got out I returned it.  Unable to clearly understand the words that he was saying, I did clearly understand that the bomb had been detonated.  I left and went to  David's place.  Things had changed drastically.  We sat and talked with her as we cried.  We thanked her for loving us through so many hard times in our lives.  We thanked her for loving us even though we were often unlovable.  We thanked her for wanting to be with us.  We thanked her for how she would sometimes slow us down.  We thanked her for persisting in drawing out the best in us.

     When I had left the office several people had offered to come if we wanted.  David thought this would be good.  After we got down to the clinic, the dean met us there after we knew that Annie's eyes were closing for good.  We spent a long time coming her hair, loving her and telling Annie stories.  Carol said some prayers with all of us and we sat together with our tears as she died in that God soaked room.  This was truly a holy time.   Annie had been sent to us for a season with some important gifts.  She left those gifts with us and departed.

     So Annie, this Thanksgiving I especially give thanks for you.  I thank you for your deep wisdom that slowed us down to remind us that we were human and to not miss this great life.  I will do  my best.  Thank you for teaching us how to welcome people.  You were always excited about anyone coming to the door – may I take that gift to heart.  Thanks for teaching us how to deeply love some often very unlovable people.  I will try.  Thank you for being by our sides in some very hard times.

     Pay attention to animals (even a bird coming to the window.)  God speaks through them.  Slow down, listen deeply and give thanks.  God has just shown up.

Thanks Katniss

For the past several weeks, Christ Church Cathedral youth have reflected theologically on the Hunger Games. Unless you have been in hibernation, you may have noticed that Catching Fire, the second movie in the trilogy releases, on November 22.

On Sunday, our group watched the scene of Rue’s death from the first movie. Many people are familiar with this scene. Katniss, the main character forms a beautiful relationship with a young girl named Rue. The two are very different – Rue is a meek, hardworking, darker skinned, twelve-year old orchard picker from District 11. Katniss is a strong, rebellious, white, daughter of a deceased coal-miner from District 12. In the Hunger Games Arena, Katniss befriend Rue. As she does so, she finds that the differences between the two are far less than their similarities. Rue reminds Katniss of her younger sister, Prim. They form a special bond.

Upon Rue’s death in the arena, Katniss refuses to just let Rue be another disrespected and forgotten child who dies. Lovingly, Katniss prepares her body for burial with a wonderful blanket of flowers. It is a turning point in the story, for it allows all people to see Rue as a person of value and worth. By her actions, Katniss points out that all persons are worthy of dignity and respect.

God who made us knows that we are all worthy of respect. The Gospel of Luke reminds us how valuable to God we are – “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7, NRSV). We matter to God. All of us matter. We matter when we are up and when we are down, when we are from Appaliachia for from the capital, when we are 12, 16 and 102, when we are meek and when we are strong. All of us matter.

All of us matter to God and because of that, God sends us Katniss’ everywhere to remind us of how special we are.

Matthew 25 reminds us that whenever we help those in need – the prisoner, the stranger, the naked, the thirsty, and the sick we help Christ. All of us have been in a position to help those around us and all of us have been in a position to need help. As we live our days, let us be mindful of the people who God has sent to help us. 

A prayer written with help from Christ Church Middle Schoolers –

God, we give you thanks for loving and caring for us. We thank you for all the times that we were sick and you healed us, thirsty and you filled us with living water, imprisoned and you visited us. We thank you especially for the times when we were lost and you found us, when we were empty and you filled us, when we were confused and you gave us clarity. We thank you for the people who pick us up when we are stuck, made us happy when we are sad, and show us the way back home when we are homesick. Sometimes we feel like a fish out of water, but you always throw us back. You love us, and we thank you. Amen. 

What Happened to Thanksgiving?

As Halloween and All Saint's fade away, one would think that the next thing on people's mind would be Thanksgiving. But alas, Christmas has found its way into the stores, onto the radio stations, on houses, and on checklists and shopping lists. My question is, what happened to Thanksgiving? 

America is one of the few countries in the world to have a day of Thanksgiving. We remember the history of the Pilgrims celebrating a day of thanks. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of thanks in 1863 for all of the states to observe, which became a holiday during the 1870s. In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the day of Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in November. 

All the history aside, what does Thanksgiving represent? Why do we celebrate it? Is it just a day to eat way too much, watch the parade, and watch football? I think there are more reasons than just those to celebrate Thanksgiving and why we shouldn't just cast it aside and launch right into Christmas. 

God calls us to be thankful and to praise Him for His blessings. Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." God wants us to remember and give thanks for everything in our lives. At times, this may be very hard to do and may be hard to find things to be thankful for, but there is always something God has given us for which we can be thankful. 

This year, I am going to write down something every day that I am thankful for during the month of November. I encourage others to join me on this adventure and see how God blesses each day. I want Thanksgiving this year to be more than just about the food and the football; it is will be a day of giving thanks. Christmas can wait. 

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~ Colossians 3:18