Jesus and the donkey

Today being Palm Sunday, it's natural to think of the young donkey which Jesus rode in His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11).  Though the manner of the donkey's requisition seems a bit unorthodox to modern sensibility, it's clear that Jesus knew which colt He wanted and why He needed him.  Zechariah had prophesied after all, in Matthew's words:

"Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" (21:5)

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creature praise

thanks to Dean Ohlman of The Wonder of Creation for this poignant reminder of our calling to join God's creatures in worshiping our mutual Creator ...

I’m not sure how many churches today still incorporate in their worship the traditional “Doxology” sung to the tune of the “Old Hundredth.”  It was so common in the past and familiar enough now that in almost any crowd gathered anywhere in the English-speaking world, if you started singing it, you’d likely be joined by the majority—much like the singing of “Amazing Grace.”  I’ve always loved it:

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a tribute to Little Chickie

a heartfelt tribute to the communication capabilities of chickens, and one "Little Chickie" in particular, from Jenny Sue Hane ...

“Indeed, but are they truly incomprehensible?  In my experience communication is a matter of patience, imagination.  I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure.” (Captain Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Episode 102 “Darmok”)

It may surprise you to learn that the thing I associate most strongly with that quote is a chicken.

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all about chickens

Continuing on the theme of our tendency to value some animals differently than others, I'm grateful to animal advocate, filmmaker and friend Adam Durand for sharing "25 Random Things About Chickens" ...

I'm so tired of talking about me all the time that I've made a list of random things about my favorite animal: the chicken!  I'm willing to make huge sacrifices for these little guys, so I felt I should tell you why.  If you want to know more, check out my movie Fowl Play:

1. Chickens were domesticated from the Red Junglefowl of Southeast Asia.  Junglefowl are social forest-dwellers who perch, make calls, and look much like modern chickens. U nlike the ancestors of cows (the beastly "aurochs," the last of whom were killed hundreds of years ago), Junglefowl still co-exist with humanity, but they're thought to be facing extinction through interbreeding with domesticated chickens.

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the dignity & beauty of elderly animals

Photographer Isa Leshko has been "travelling to sanctuaries across the country to photograph animals that are elderly or at the end stage of their lives."  Prompted by helping to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, and time spent with an elderly blind horse, Leshko hopes that the photos will help herself and others wrestle with the difficult realities of aging and mortality.  And she also hopes that the images will encourage people to look at animals, especially farm animals, in a different and more empathetic light.

You can read more at Leshko's "Elderly Animals" project artist statement, and view the photos here.  In black and white, they really do capture a unique beauty and dignity of some of the more venerable members of God's animal creation.  Leshko mentions fighting back tears at some of her shoots, in the following short from Walley Films about the project, which in itself is very moving:

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animals in the eyes of children

Following on Liz Jakimow's post "Special Attachments," Lauren Merritt of The Christian and Creation offers another valuable perspective on our tendency to value animals differently, and looks to the example of her toddler son in countering it ...

My son Daniel fell and fractured his femur several weeks ago, right before his second birthday.  For almost two weeks we were stuck inside on the sofa, waiting for the pain and swelling to go down, reading books and watching movies and coloring over and over and over … and over.  Finally, he was comfortable enough to move around a little bit and was able to take rides in a wagon which accommodated his large spica cast.

Our first trip out of the house in two weeks was to the Louisville Zoo.  I was so excited to get out of the house and I knew Daniel would love seeing all the animals (and of course, so would I).  So off we went, fifteen minutes down the highway with our new zoo pass, to see all of God’s wonderful creatures.

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special attachments

valuable insight from Liz Jakimow of God and Gum Nuts into the natural attachments we form with certain parts of God's creation, even certain animals, and how God can use them for an even greater good ...

Today I read an article ("Koalas, People and Climate Change: Not a Good Mix," by Christine Adams-Hosking) that told me that the koala is highly vulnerable to climate change.  This is according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which places it in a list of only 10 species in the world.

I visit a lot of environmental sites and read a lot of environmental newsletters.  So I'm used to hearing bad news.  But this article hit me in a way few other articles have.

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The Christian Post on rhino poaching & species endangerment

The callous poaching of rhinoceroses in South Africa, where 3/4 of the world's rhinos live, has thankfully received mainstream attention in the news of late.  See for instance "Spike in Rhino Poaching Threatens Survival of Species" at MSNBC.com which points out that "South Africans brought the white rhino back from the brink of extinction" going into the 20th centuty, but "the recent spike in poaching has South Africans worried that all of their hard work to save the rhino will be reversed."  The Rock Center video report attached to the article also gives a glimpse of the very personal toll which the poaching is taking on those who work so diligently to protect the rhinos.

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birds of the air

In the past couple of weeks we've shared a few posts on God's endlessly diverse and fascinating avian creations, from George MacDonald's poem "The Sparrow" to Dean Ohlman's tribute to a "Wonderbird," and the stunning video of a "Murmuration" of starlings.  Before moving on, here are a few more faith-informed nods to the "birds of the air" worth looking up:

"Soaring" is one of several poignant nature reflections at Fiachra's Hollow, with a special focus on wild birds that elegantly "ride the wind," such as storks and cranes, hawks and eagles, and even vultures.  On a personal level, I also really appreciated the encouraging reference to Isaiah 40 and "soar(ing) on wings like eagles."

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a murmuration of starlings

"Murmuration" is a simply stunning short video taken by independent filmmakers Liberty Smith and Sophie Clive, while canoeing on the River Shannon in Ireland.  As the girls say, they "stumble(d) across one of nature’s greatest phenomenons; a murmuration [or collection] of starlings," capturing their unbelievably coordinated movements en masse:

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