•Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited.
•Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on beginning. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Father William Miller
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Lihu‘e
I believe in dog. Or perhaps it would be better to say: Dog believes in me. One of the best prayers I know is this one: “Lord, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am.” I continue to aspire to become that kind of human being.
I believe it was Anatole France who wrote: “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” I have loved three animals in my lifetime. Each one of them awakened parts of me that are most soulful, most connecting to my creator. My first dog was Sam Houston, an eighty-two pound Airedale Terrier who survived a house fire when he was a puppy. He lost his ears in the fire, but not his sense of purpose, sense of passion and even sense of humor. He was my partner in ministry and consoled many who were experiencing grief, illness or loss. He seemed to know intuitively when someone needed a hug, a nudge between their legs or a kind lick on the face. Sam was my spiritual director and taught me more about theology than any human.
My second dog is Andrew “Jack” Jackson. He is a fun-loving adventurer who reminds me that life is not to be lived behind a fence. The world is to be explored and experienced and taking chances is part of the spiritual calling. I have chased him around countless neighborhoods and once found him drifting out into the Gulf of Mexico after swimming toward a boat full of bikini-clad partyers. Jack reminds me that life is too important to be taken too seriously and that as we are given opportunities to experience the full spectrum of God’s gifts, we should jump into the water first, figure out how to swim second.
My third dog in my “terrier trinity” is from the Kaua‘i Humane Society. When I first laid eyes on Nawiliwili Nelson, I knew that we were destined to have a significant partnership. I don’t know his whole story but I can imagine that his first months as a puppy were not particularly easy. The good people at the humane society found him wandering down the street. He had a smile on his face and was oblivious to his unfortunate plight and the challenging circumstances of his existence. When I first approached his cage he ran toward me and straight into the chain-link fence in what I can describe only as a great collision of love. He pressed his entire body sideways toward me so that I might have the privilege of petting him. Wili seems to recognize that life is pure gift, and that meaning in life really is dependent on our relationships with others and our ability to give and receive unconditional love. Oh, and that if you are too busy for a rousing game of tennis bone in the backyard your life is way too busy and you have your priorities confused.
Of course, my dogs have taught me many other spiritual truths. That discerning God’s presence in our lives often means we keep our noses to the ground and keenly sniff out discoveries that reveal a loving, if not interesting creator. There are no “non-sniffing” zones, no areas that are off-limits in our exploration. That we can tell the truth about ourselves and not engage in the great spiritual hypocrisy of our time: dishonesty. And that if we have a need we can let others know what that is. We don’t have to make them guess. If Wili needs a good belly scratch, he doesn’t start acting like he is irritated with me for not being able to read his mind. He simply plops over, raises his paws up over his head, and reveals the prime scratching real estate of his belly. I get the point. And he gets a scratch. Communication lessons abound.
In the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Scriptures, it appears that there are two distinct creation stories preserved in the tradition. In one of them, the order of creation is quite different than in the other. In fact, it is reversed. God creates “A-dam” (man of the earth) first and then recognizes that the human is lonely. So God has a great idea — animals. God created the animals and allowed Adam to name them. It is as if the creator had planned a most significant partnership between humans and animals.
I get it. I still think it’s one of God’s best ideas. I am so grateful for my animal friends.
Bill Miller is the author of “The Gospel According to Sam: Animal Stories for the Soul”
The Baha’is of Kauai
The Baha’i writings say: “Educate the children in their infancy in such a way that they may become exceedingly kind and merciful to the animals.”
Pets are an integral part of many families. These domesticated animals come in many species and sizes and provide companionship and comfort to young and old alike. Anyone who has ever loved a pet can attest to its hundred-fold return. They entertain us when we are bored; they comfort us when we are sad.
Though man is the superior being, we can learn a lot from our pets. To owners their pets are forgiving and do not fault-find — they are loyal, protective, devoted and demonstrate unconditional love. Having pets can teach us how to treat others.
It is likely that by learning to be loving and caring for animals children can transfer these attributes to all of creation.
Topic for two weeks from today:
• Will you speak to us on neighbors?
•Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
• Deadline each week is Tuesday, by 5 p.m.
