You’ve probably heard of – and perhaps led or participated in – church services that include a blessing of animals. Many congregations offer them on the Feast Day of St. Francis, who was well known for his love of animals.
What about a regularly scheduled worship service for dogs, complete with doggie treats passed out during the offering? No, I’m not making this up; you can read all about it by clicking here.
I admit, my first response was to laugh, especially when I read these lines: “The service started amid a riot of tail-sniffing, barking, whining and playful roughhousing. But as Eggebeen stepped to the front and the piano struck up the hymn ‘GoD and DoG,’ one by one the pooches lay down, chins on paws, and listened.”
I also remembered a home-bound member of a previous congregation I served. Each time I communed her, she broke off half of the wafer and fed it to her poodle. I cringed inwardly, but it was clearly important to her to share this meal with her beloved companion, and I decided not to risk alienating her by challenging the practice.
Clearly, animals play an important role in the lives of many people. I have fond memories of my own childhood pets (which included, at various times, dogs, a cat, a rabbit, a turtle, gerbils, and a parakeet) and the cats with whom I have shared my home as an adult. They provide unconditional love and have greatly enriched my life. I consider them members of my family, and grieve deeply whenever one dies.
I still don’t think I’d bring my cats with me to church on a regular basis, but I can understand why some people might want to bring their animals with them, especially people who live alone except for their animal companions. The worship service mentioned in the article seems to be meeting a real need, and is reaching people who otherwise might not attend church at all.
What do you think? Have you brought your animals to church, or would you if you had the option? Would you feel comfortable praying for animals by name? What about giving them treats during worship? Please leave a comment to share your thoughts.
Have you ever been with someone when they died? It’s an incredibly powerful, moving experience, a sacred moment that reminds everyone present of what is truly important in life.
Because I am an ordained minister, I sometimes get asked to come to the bedside of a dying person and pray with that person and his or her family. There is even a special “Commendation of the Dying” worship service for the occasion, in which I lay my hand on the head of the dying and say the following words: Child of God, go forth in the name of God…May you rest in peace and dwell forever in the paradise of God.
Recently, as I said those words to a woman who was dying, and watched with her adult children as she took her last breath a few moments later, I thought about how precious life is and who and what is most important in my own life. I hope that when it is time for me to leave this earth, I will be surrounded by family members who love me and will go as peacefully as this woman did. I hope that I will be remembered as a kind person whose words and deeds reflected God’s love, and as someone who helped others see their true worth and reach their full potential.
I also realized that ultimately it makes no difference how much money I make, whether or not my career choices qualify me as “successful” by the world’s standards, what I look like, or how many people know my name. All of those superficial things that used to (and still do on some days) seem so important, and take up so much of my time and energy, are trivial when compared to loving and being loved, reaching out to help others in need, and making the most of every moment I have left.
I hope that reading this inspires you to focus on what really matters, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, lend a helping hand to someone, and take the time to stop and smell the roses or otherwise enjoy the beauty this world has to offer. Life is a precious gift; make the most of yours!
(Note: I originally wrote this article for the July 2009 Be True to Yourself newsletter; to sign up for your free subscription enter your name and email address in the box on the left side of the home page).