"Blessing of the Animals: Gifts of Companions"
Tonight is Erev Rosh Hashanah,
marking tomorrow as the first day
of the Jewish New Year.
We note that it’s the start of a new calendar year - 5777.
But it’s also a celebration of
the World’s Birthday,
the dawn of Creation.
Jewish mysticism teaches that
the year is divided into
two basic halves:
the six months of autumn and winter,
which we enter into tonight as Rosh Hashanah begins,
and also the six months of spring and summer.
The autumn and winter months are considered
“the days of rain.”
Literally, because in the middle east,
similar to us in southern California,
the rainy season is right around the corner.
But they also consider these months “the days of rain”
in a spiritual sense.
As the days shorten and the nights grow longer,
we are drawn toward a time of inward reflection.
An opportunity to work on ourselves,
to rediscover, reacquaint ourselves
with the innermost values
that guide our daily actions.
For us at Throop,
we enjoy a sweet synchronicity today
in that we celebrate the gifts we receive
from the animals in our lives
right as the Jewish year turns anew.
In part, because our blessing of the animals
is a time for joy,
just as a new year is also a time of delight.
And because as we bless these animals among us,
we honor the birth and life
not only of them,
but through them,
the evolving miracle
of all Creation.
But that’s not the only cause of synchronicity.
During the days of Rosh Hashanah,
and the week leading up to Yom Kippur,
we are invited to reflect on the meaning and purpose of life,
all life.
This morning, as we share our love and respect
for the creatures in our midst,
as we laugh and enjoy them,
perhaps remembering animals no longer with us,
this is also a time set aside
to delve into deeper questions.
Questions like:
What is the place of animals in our society?
Is our individual role more appropriately
one of a compassionate steward of animals,
or is our role one of a dominating user of their bodies?
And what does our larger faith teach us
about our connection to non-human life?
This question of our rights and responsibilities
in relationship to animals
has long been with Unitarians and Universalists.
Unitarian ancestor Theodore Parker,
18th Century minister, activist, theologian,
considered one of the great prophets and leaders of our faith,
recounted a boyhood incident that changed his life.
One day, long ago,
when he was 4 or 5 years old,
Theodore was walking through farm fields near his home.
Somewhere along the way,
he had picked up a long stick,
and was swinging it back and forth,
in time with his walking.
When he got to a stream,
he stopped and watched the water
bubbling around the stones.
Then he noticed a turtle sunning itself on a rock.
He’d seen other boys, older boys, use their sticks
to poke at and torment turtles and other animals.
They thought it was fun and showed off their bravery.
Theodore admired those older kids,
and wanted to be like them.
So he walked over to the turtle,
raised his stick in the air ...
And then he stopped.
Something in what he was about to do seemed wrong.
He looked at the turtle.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Enjoying the warmth of the day
and the light of the sun,
just being his turtle self
on the rock.
Theodore thought, that’s like me.
Out here.
Enjoying the warmth of the day
and the light of the sun.
He wondered, had the turtle ever done him any harm?
Was the turtle really so different from himself?
Young Theodore came to his own conclusion.
After he shared the incident with his mother,
she told him,
“Always follow what your conscience tells you.
It’s your moral compass
that points you in the right direction.
If you honor your conscience,
you’ll never go wrong
in this world.” (1)
As your pastor,
we’re in a unique role together.
I’m not your mom.
I’m not your conscience.
I don’t see my role as telling you what to do,
well, maybe some of the time.
I am here to help create a space in which
you can peer into the mystery of life.
Create a space in which you can welcome stillness.
Remind you that these “days of rain,”
can be used by you to deepen
your own mind/body/spirit connection.
Our relationship with animals is perplexing.
For some of them,
we would almost give our own lives.
We treat them as family, as children even.
We delight in the seeming innocence of animals.
If we are sad or depressed,
we watch videos of cats and kittens,
dogs and puppies,
being silly or being loving.
When we hear stories about an animal
helping a young child,
or parenting a young one
from a different species,
we sit in wonder and amazement.
And yet, we are also part of a system
that abuses, tortures, manipulates
millions of animals for our own personal benefit.
The food we eat.
The clothes we wear.
The cars we drive.
The sporting equipment we use.
The medicine we take.
Each day WE make choices
in our lives
that determine the fates of
so many creatures of the earth and sky.
In the moment, when we
decide on a menu item
reach for a bottle of shampoo
rub lip balm on chapped lips
put a sweater into our shopping bag
Our choice isn’t as dramatic as young Theodore Parker’s.
We aren’t standing in the middle
of a restaurant or store,
arm raised as we hold a stick,
our eyes staring into the eyes of another animal,
who waits to see which direction
our moral compass will point.
Yet, the fate of so many animals
rests in our hands.
Today, we have ample, easy, affordable ways
to pick the cruelty-free option.
Many products have a symbol near the ingredients
that says “cruelty free.”
More and more food items at Trader Joe’s
has a V on the front, for vegan.
Cotton sweaters feel just as
warm and cozy as wool,
and aren’t itchy on your skin.
As we head into the “days of rain”
may you give yourself the space to turn inward,
and consider anew your relationship to all Creation
by thinking about these questions:
How are we to act toward animals this year?
What seeds of compassion and kindness toward all Creation are we meant to plant?
How might we awaken or birth in ourselves
a stronger promise to nurture the well-being of all life,
and of the planet itself?
1. From UU Animal Ministry resource, “Blessing of the Animals,” accessed at http://uuam.org/docs/blessings-of-the-animals.pdf on September 30, 2016.
marking tomorrow as the first day
of the Jewish New Year.
We note that it’s the start of a new calendar year - 5777.
But it’s also a celebration of
the World’s Birthday,
the dawn of Creation.
Jewish mysticism teaches that
the year is divided into
two basic halves:
the six months of autumn and winter,
which we enter into tonight as Rosh Hashanah begins,
and also the six months of spring and summer.
The autumn and winter months are considered
“the days of rain.”
Literally, because in the middle east,
similar to us in southern California,
the rainy season is right around the corner.
But they also consider these months “the days of rain”
in a spiritual sense.
As the days shorten and the nights grow longer,
we are drawn toward a time of inward reflection.
An opportunity to work on ourselves,
to rediscover, reacquaint ourselves
with the innermost values
that guide our daily actions.
For us at Throop,
we enjoy a sweet synchronicity today
in that we celebrate the gifts we receive
from the animals in our lives
right as the Jewish year turns anew.
In part, because our blessing of the animals
is a time for joy,
just as a new year is also a time of delight.
And because as we bless these animals among us,
we honor the birth and life
not only of them,
but through them,
the evolving miracle
of all Creation.
But that’s not the only cause of synchronicity.
During the days of Rosh Hashanah,
and the week leading up to Yom Kippur,
we are invited to reflect on the meaning and purpose of life,
all life.
This morning, as we share our love and respect
for the creatures in our midst,
as we laugh and enjoy them,
perhaps remembering animals no longer with us,
this is also a time set aside
to delve into deeper questions.
Questions like:
What is the place of animals in our society?
Is our individual role more appropriately
one of a compassionate steward of animals,
or is our role one of a dominating user of their bodies?
And what does our larger faith teach us
about our connection to non-human life?
This question of our rights and responsibilities
in relationship to animals
has long been with Unitarians and Universalists.
Unitarian ancestor Theodore Parker,
18th Century minister, activist, theologian,
considered one of the great prophets and leaders of our faith,
recounted a boyhood incident that changed his life.
One day, long ago,
when he was 4 or 5 years old,
Theodore was walking through farm fields near his home.
Somewhere along the way,
he had picked up a long stick,
and was swinging it back and forth,
in time with his walking.
When he got to a stream,
he stopped and watched the water
bubbling around the stones.
Then he noticed a turtle sunning itself on a rock.
He’d seen other boys, older boys, use their sticks
to poke at and torment turtles and other animals.
They thought it was fun and showed off their bravery.
Theodore admired those older kids,
and wanted to be like them.
So he walked over to the turtle,
raised his stick in the air ...
And then he stopped.
Something in what he was about to do seemed wrong.
He looked at the turtle.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Enjoying the warmth of the day
and the light of the sun,
just being his turtle self
on the rock.
Theodore thought, that’s like me.
Out here.
Enjoying the warmth of the day
and the light of the sun.
He wondered, had the turtle ever done him any harm?
Was the turtle really so different from himself?
Young Theodore came to his own conclusion.
After he shared the incident with his mother,
she told him,
“Always follow what your conscience tells you.
It’s your moral compass
that points you in the right direction.
If you honor your conscience,
you’ll never go wrong
in this world.” (1)
As your pastor,
we’re in a unique role together.
I’m not your mom.
I’m not your conscience.
I don’t see my role as telling you what to do,
well, maybe some of the time.
I am here to help create a space in which
you can peer into the mystery of life.
Create a space in which you can welcome stillness.
Remind you that these “days of rain,”
can be used by you to deepen
your own mind/body/spirit connection.
Our relationship with animals is perplexing.
For some of them,
we would almost give our own lives.
We treat them as family, as children even.
We delight in the seeming innocence of animals.
If we are sad or depressed,
we watch videos of cats and kittens,
dogs and puppies,
being silly or being loving.
When we hear stories about an animal
helping a young child,
or parenting a young one
from a different species,
we sit in wonder and amazement.
And yet, we are also part of a system
that abuses, tortures, manipulates
millions of animals for our own personal benefit.
The food we eat.
The clothes we wear.
The cars we drive.
The sporting equipment we use.
The medicine we take.
Each day WE make choices
in our lives
that determine the fates of
so many creatures of the earth and sky.
In the moment, when we
decide on a menu item
reach for a bottle of shampoo
rub lip balm on chapped lips
put a sweater into our shopping bag
Our choice isn’t as dramatic as young Theodore Parker’s.
We aren’t standing in the middle
of a restaurant or store,
arm raised as we hold a stick,
our eyes staring into the eyes of another animal,
who waits to see which direction
our moral compass will point.
Yet, the fate of so many animals
rests in our hands.
Today, we have ample, easy, affordable ways
to pick the cruelty-free option.
Many products have a symbol near the ingredients
that says “cruelty free.”
More and more food items at Trader Joe’s
has a V on the front, for vegan.
Cotton sweaters feel just as
warm and cozy as wool,
and aren’t itchy on your skin.
As we head into the “days of rain”
may you give yourself the space to turn inward,
and consider anew your relationship to all Creation
by thinking about these questions:
How are we to act toward animals this year?
What seeds of compassion and kindness toward all Creation are we meant to plant?
How might we awaken or birth in ourselves
a stronger promise to nurture the well-being of all life,
and of the planet itself?
1. From UU Animal Ministry resource, “Blessing of the Animals,” accessed at http://uuam.org/docs/blessings-of-the-animals.pdf on September 30, 2016.