Did you know that, in 2020, Seattle had the highest ratio of dogs to people of any major city in the US and more dogs than children? Plenty of cats here, too.
We don’t have any pets at our house right now so when I think about animal companions in my life, I have to go back a few years. I can see my 12-year old self, sitting in the fall sunshine on the back porch of the blue 1890s farmhouse where I grew up. I am holding one of my 4-H chickens. I’ve got a blue bandana triangle holding my hair away from my face, braids falling over my shoulders, wearing my poultry club t-shirt, and this bantam hen nestled in my lap. She was a buff Brahma. She was so pretty and she had such personality! She loved to pose on the show table.
About this big [hands]. Smooth golden brown feathers, black lacing on her cape, little brown feathers fanning out from her feet, and curious little eyes watching the world. Sitting in my lap, she was so soft and fluffy and warm. Her little chicken murmurs and clucks sounding safety and satisfaction. She was happy, and so was I. (in case you're curious, here's a photo of a buff Brahma bantam hen.)
I realize that my delight in chickens makes me weird. Most of you are more into dogs and cats and bunnies. We had rabbits too, but my brothers were involved with them; I was more into chickens.
Did you know there is only one breed of turkeys?
And that the color of a hen’s earlobe will tell you what color eggs she lays? Or that chickens ‘talk’ with a wide variety of vocalizations?
But I digress. If you ever want to talk poultry, I’m here for you.
Relationships with animals are good for us. Many of us, even those who don’t have our own pets, can probably attest to the calming effect of sitting with an animal. Scientific studies have shown that just 10 minutes of petting an animal reduces cortisol, the primary stress hormone our body produces. And while our cortisol and anxiety are going down, our oxytocin - the hormone that increases feelings of love and bonding - is going up. And, it turns out, our animals experience elevated oxytocin from the same interaction. What’s good for them is good for us, and vice versa. God created animals and humans to have this positive connection.
Connection is at the heart of who we are at Trinity. Our centering values are Welcome, Beauty, Community, and Neighbors. All about connection. Connection with every unique person who walks through our doors. Connection with the Holy who creates and inspires beauty we see and feel and hear. Connection and care for those we know, our neighbors and neighborhood, and all creation.
We are a community that loves to connect. Through eating, praying, having fun, singing, playing, serving and learning - all the ways we connect - we nurture our relationship with God, with creation, and with one another.
Relationships take intention and work. Talking about our values helps us envision the faithful, joy and justice filled life we want to live as followers of Jesus. And then comes the work, the breath to breath, day to day living into those values.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells the Pharisees they have to decide where they think John’s authority comes from - heaven or earth - before he will tell them about the source of his authority. When they can’t decide what to say, Jesus reminds us that his Way is more concerned with what we do than what we say.
How we show up, the ways we show our connections and care for one another, for God, for our neighbors, our animals, and the creation. These are more important to our faith than the words we use.
Each of us has values. Core beliefs that help us decide what is important in all kinds of choices in life. A value for sustainable resources could influence our choices about whether we eat meat or bring our own bags to the grocery store, or creating habits for conserving water and electricity. A value for a safe community or meeting basic human needs could affect how we save and spend money or give to charity, or what kinds of volunteer or paid work we do.
Our values influence every decision we make: how we regard our bodies and health, how we interact with other people, how we use our time, how we respect and care for animals and the land, our acknowledgement of our own privileges, how we value money or education or possessions. Our values shape our connections in ways we may not realize.
My 12-year old self, sitting with my chicken, was learning and living values that I couldn’t articulate at the time. Values about our connection with all living beings, about caring for others’ needs for food and safety, about where food comes from, about seasons and cycles of life. Chickens don’t live forever, you know.
We choose connection.
Say hello to someone you don’t recognize. Attend Coffee hour or adult forum. Join a service project. Meet your neighbors. Plant a tree or work in a garden. Pet a dog or cat, or even a chicken.
Let the value of connection influence how we take care of one another, our animals, and all of creation.
What values center your life?
What priorities shape your decisions?
I invite you to notice this coming week what you value and how your values influence your choices.
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