a sense of guilt ...
Following up on yesterday's post, Croatian artist Lidija Ivanek (whose imaginative work we've featured previously) writes a very honest and encouraging note about her own wrestling with the question whether caring for animals is a worthy calling for Christians ...
When I was growing up, I always wanted to be near animals. But that was often impossible. My family lived in a flat, and my father, well ... he didn't like the smell, the fur, the dust, etc. Then I became a veterinarian, but it seemed that all around me, all the time, there were people who didn't approve of my love for animals, or my care for them in a gentle and loving way.
That probably developed a strange sensitivity in me. I have a constant need to apologize to people for the love of animals that I've had since my birth. I have a sense of guilt over the fact that we have two dogs living with us in our house.
Today, while I was preparing lunch, I spoke to my Lord (I love that time when my hands are busy with food, and my thoughts can freely be with the Lord), and He showed me that care for animals comes from Him. Through companionship with animals He make us grow more, grow spiritually. We can grow to be more caring, more sympathetic, more responsible ...
Every living creature which He gave us to care for can be His way of teaching us and helping us become less self-centered and more God-centered, less egoistic and more altruistic, less serious and more joyful ...
I realized that my guilt was not from God, but it is a pressure on me which I need to rebuke.
(many thanks to Lidija for sharing this post with us, originally published as "Sleeping Dog - abstract expressionism by Lidija Ivanek (SiLa)" on her excellent blog Sila Art, you can find more of her work at her personal site; painting and photo of her two dogs courtesy and copyright Lidija Ivanek)
June 4, 2010
Reader Comments (4)
Thank you for this Lidija, I have struggled with this as well. I have tried to surpress my sensitivity to the plight of animals, thinking that I was being inappropriately "sentimental," and perhaps even improperly putting animals ahead of people. I have come to understand that allowing this sensitivity to be expressed does not make me less compassionate, but more, towards people as well as animals. It has caused me to think of all the times in life I have felt a strong sense of injustice or anger at something that was happening and simply suppressed it - how it had become habitual.
I even remember a time when I was new to another country where I lived for two years. While I was talking to two friends a car came along a road where there had not been any cars for an hour or more. (It was Sunday.) A big dog was crossing the road and the car sped up and hit it. I believe it died instantly. My friends carried on the conversation and I remember carrying on as well, although I almost fainted. My friends finally noticed and looked at each other. One said "it's the dog" (in the language of that country), and the other glanced over his shoulder toward where the dog was lying dead. And then we continued the conversation.
I don't know why I'm remembering this right now, except that it is such a good illustration of how hard I worked to ignore my own horror and reactions to cruelty. It has been such a relief to express them. I believe they're from God's heart. Perhaps that is a part of God's heart that some of us experience and express more keenly, as part of our gift to the world.
The guilt is not altogether gone though. I find myself paying attention to how many of my facebook posts are about animals, and feeling a need to balance them with other concerns.
Denise, thanks very much for this comment. It's incredibly insightful and identifiable as usual, and I can't believe you witnessed that car hitting the dog, how deeply cruel and tragic. I made sure to let Lidija know your comment was here - Ben
Am chuckling a bit because almost ALL of my posts on FB are about animals and all the areas related to them from cruelty and stewardship to food and animal companions. I am unashamedly a lover of all animals and unapologetically a passionate advocating voice for them, just as I would be -and am - for any creature that is outcast, downtrodden, abused and neglected, such as children & widows. There is a large difference between humans and animals but it's a moot point when it comes to Love who redeems, reconciles and restores ALL things to Himself. It's just splitting hairs because love is love and mercy is mercy no matter to whom or what they are directed. This is in direct imitation of our God who loves all his creation and shows mercy towards it. How can we do any less? We do at times, but then we need to ask why? What are we afraid of? Disapproval from man? The internal and external consequences of our passion? Failure in our cause? Offending someone? Being too extreme?
I think all of these concerns must have confronted Jesus, but even so He did not temper His message and purpose one single bit and neither must we. And yet, He delivered that message with grace and love, which of course, was the whole point. This also must we do, all the while believing He will bring the work to its appropriate fruition in His time and according to His purpose.
Leslie, thank you for the very articulate and compelling comment, and you know I admire your consistent and faith-informed voice on behalf of animals, as well as your honesty with and about yourself - Ben