Hard Times
With so many people finding themselves in hard times and humanity at an all-time low, millions of animals the world over are finding themselves homeless, helpless, hopeless, heart-broken and hankering after a love that rarely exists.
The streets are littered with those who have been thrown away, discarded like rubbish and left to fend for themselves, and we see this with people too.
Many have never known love and are left at the mercy of the elements to fend for themselves, finding comfort with others in the same situation, and only the strong survive.
I am reminded of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi who said that "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Clearly, here in South Africa, Greece and America, and various other parts of the world, the lack of decency, dignity and demonstrable care is evident, humans have well and truly lost their way.
A Throw Away Society
We have become a throw away society.
Whether this applies to our waste, our material things, our elderly parents or our animal companions, we don't hesitate in casting them out, kicking them to the curb and letting someone else take care of our "problems".
We have become weak and selfish, lazy and self-righteous and greedy and lustful.
Our hearts have become calloused and hard and they have turned to stone and grown cold.
In the age of me, myself and I, we have truly lost our way, and Creation is groaning under the weight of the hard and heavy yoke we have burdened it with.
Bursting The Bubble
Suffering happens when we close our eyes and our hearts to the truth and pretend not to see it.
We turn away because the truth is ugly and it hurts, we don't want to look at it, because it's too much to bear and we would be forced to look at our own shortcomings.
Our bubble of perceived protection is burst and we are now exposed to our ineptitude, selfishness and cruelty as the wretched truth is laid bare, leaving a stench and grotesque sight that is almost too much for us to bear, but bear it we must.
I rescued the dog in the photo from the street, collecting her broken spirit, I took her into my arms, tended to her wounds, gave her everything she needed and loved her back to life, naming her Mercy, because God had Mercy on her, through me.
I allowed Mercy to touch me and I touched her, I made Mercy's problem my problem, and in turn, my responsibility, and in that moment, enlightenment and at-one-ment was within my grasp.
The Truth Sets Us Free
The truth is a paradox, by looking at that which hurts us the most, the veil is lifted, everything that has been holding us back becomes visible and the demons which haunt us are but paper tigers.
In our ignorance, we run, hide, escape through drink, drugs, sex and sleeping and push feelings of unworthiness, fear and pain down with food, binge-watching tv, numbing and dumbing it away any way we can.
Yet despite all our tactics and control dramas, the truth stares us square in the face, abjectly refusing to move and demanding to be seen, heard, felt and acknowledged.
Only by looking at what is in front of our eyes, can we attend to the rotten and stinking mess that is before us, the outer reflecting the inner, raw, real and rancid, begging, pleading and desperate to be seen, heard, embraced, felt and loved.
"It is only by holding to the teaching of Jesus, that we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free," (John 8:31-32) and that teaching is love.
Oaks of Righteousness
Those of us who are awake and aware, who have forced ourselves to look, have no option but to extend our hand.
We see the weight that is bearing down upon the world and our souls ache, we cannot un-see, we cannot avert our eyes and we cannot stand idly by and do nothing.
We have to act, we have to do our part and we have to help every soul who crosses our path, even though we are carrying both our own crosses, together with those of others, and are breaking under the weight.
God provides for those who grieve in Zion - bestowing on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour. (Isaiah 61:2-3)
The Fruit of The Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Love does no harm to a neighbour, love is the fulfilment of the law. (Romans 13:10)
This applies to our helpers the animals, who are a living and breathing part of God's glorious creation, embodied with the breath of life, the same as we do, who share in the Covenant and who we are charged in stewarding in a righteous way.
We have to do better by them, we have to do better by one another and above all, we have to strive for the mind of Christ.
Rising in Love
May we find the courage and strength to look at the suffering that encamps around us and be humbled by it.
May we rise to the challenge that urges us to ask and receive, knock and open and seek and find, becoming oaks of righteousness, emanating and radiating this power outwards to all those in need.
May we embrace the suffering of others, holding them close in their hour of need, ministering to them and gathering together to make a difference.
May we change the world one heart, one hope and one wagging tail at a time, being the change we want to see.
May we raise the standard, rise in love and rearrange our priorities to become worthy of that which we have been called, lighting the way for others and letting the plight of others touch us in such a profound way that we too, are changed.
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