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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christian voices for compassionate animal farming

To close out a short series on a more compassionate animal farming and diet, which previously featured the "Back to the Start" animated video and "... Also Many Animals" from Rev. Leonard Vander Zee, I wanted to link to a few other Christian voices on this critical dimension of caring for God's creatures:

- The Christian Broadcasting Network posted a commendable news segment and accompanying article on Christian "alternative farmer" Joel Salatin, "Natural Farming: Inspiring Passionate 'Stewards.'"  Salatin has received national attention in the natural food movement, including films such as Food, Inc. and books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Following the video is a great quote from Salatin in CBN's article:

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back to the start

We don't often share material which advertises a particular product or company, but as many others have found, this "Back to the Start" short from the Chipotle restaurant chain contains a powerful message on its own.  With quaintly animated farm scenes and characters, and set to a surprisingly poignant cover by Willie Nelson of Coldplay's "The Scientist," the 2 min. video movingly portrays the shift away from traditional animal farming practices to sterile and industrialized, or "factory farming," systems; but it ends with such a hopeful revelation and commitment to returning to the way things used to be ... 

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happy turkey day?

I've been admittedly reluctant to write a post on this subject in recent years.  I have many happy memories of Thanksgivings past which prominently featured a turkey as the main course, and multiple turkey sandwiches afterward.  Thanksgiving traditions run deep in our society, and it's a time for remembering all we have to be thankful for, including the family and friends who share our tables, and the food upon it.  Please know I don't mean to detract from the day in the least.

But in honoring this special day and its traditions of gratitude, it's important that we're able not only to give thanks for the bird at the center of our meal, but for the life which God gave it, and for the way it was raised and slaughtered.  As someone once poignantly put it, are we truly able to say "grace" over the food before us, even a Thanksgiving turkey?

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would Jesus shoot a ten-point buck?

Dean Ohlman, whose post "The Birdslayer" we shared a few days ago, shares some additional perspective and valuable guidelines for our brothers and sisters in Christ who continue to hunt in good conscience before God ...

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD” (Genesis 10:8-9).

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.  The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.  Everything that lives and moves will be food for you.  Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.  "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.  And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.  I will demand an accounting from every animal" (Genesis 9:1-5, both passages Today's New International Version).

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creation care, chronic pain and a plants-based diet

Here is one last personal reflection, and a thoughtful and nuanced one at that, in our series on veganism (see the introduction and motivation) from a regular contributor to not one sparrow, Lauren Merritt of The Christian and Creation: Glorifying the Creator ...

Six years ago, concern about eating animal products was not on my radar.

I was a division-one college swimmer, busy burning thousands of calories every day and scarfing them all back down in the form of dining hall hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream.  My body paid my way through the first two years of college, doing its time in the pool and weight room.  But it didn’t hold up under the strain of training and began to break down. 

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Proverbs, the righteous, and caring for animals

The following meaningful reflection on one of the most pointed verses calling us to care for God's creatures comes by way of Betty Miller, cofounder and president of Bible.com Ministries.  It's part of her daily devotional on the book of Proverbs, God's Wisdom for Daily Living, and I'm grateful to Bible.com for allowing us to share it here ...

Proverbs 12:10-11 (KJV):
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

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the good shepherds

Many thanks to Lauren Merritt of The Christian and Creation for sharing this poignant and challenging post contrasting the good shepherd model of animal husbandry with today's callous industrial farming.  Lauren also shares some excellent encouragement and resources toward eating more humanely ...

Good shepherds lead their flocks kindly, provide them rest and shelter, are tender with the mothers and young, and protect the flock from harm.  The flock, in turn, is comforted, rather than fearful of the shepherd’s staff and turn to him for guidance and care.

It’s the pastoral ideal.  It’s the scene portrayed in children’s books and famous paintings, seen in movies, and commercials about happy cows.  But today, it’s a sadly misleading version of an American farm. 

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a compassionate Easter

Last Easter, Stephanie Feldstein, lead blogger for Change.org's Animals Cause and a gifted and prolific one at that, asked if I'd be interested in contributing a few reflections as a Christian and an animal advocate on some Easter traditions and their implications for animals, along the same lines as the post we've shared from Lauren Merritt on common Easter pets.  I was very grateful to be able to share a few thoughts on the holiday and animal compassion from a faithful perspective.

As believers who recognize the true origin and meaning of Easter, is it possible we can amend some of our traditions to better reflect the new life Christ made possible for all creation by His death and resurrection?  Here's part of what I wrote for Stephanie's post "Celebrate Easter for the Animals":

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a question for you

One last post in our compassionate eating series (perhaps you're breathing a sigh of relief!) is really just a question for you, our friends and collaborators in the cause of God's creatures ...

We'd love to know if you've made any New Year's, Lent or other recent resolutions to be more compassionate in your dietary habits, whatever form that may take?  Maybe you've been working toward making more humane choices at the grocery store and eating out for a while now, or gradually adjusting to a less meat-intensive diet?  Or maybe you're an old pro at this.

Regardless, please share with us, so we can applaud you for your gumption and sacrifice.  And please let us know if personally or as a community we can be of any additional encouragement and support to you!  Feel free to post any responses here, on our Facebook thread or even on Twitter.

(photo copyright 123rf.com)