even the animals knew

Not long ago our friend Anna Clark introduced me to Christian author and poet M. Kent Travis.  Kent's blog is worth following in general, but his recent post "Even the Animals Knew" especially grabbed my attention.  Kent acknowledges he's not the biggest "animal person," but his insight is perhaps even more valuable as a result.  I'm grateful to be able to share it here at the beginning of Lent when many Christians are honoring Christ's 40 days in the wilderness ...   

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day for my second daughter.  She was being snippy and unkind to everyone else in the family, even after we explained to her what she was doing.  It was if she couldn't stop herself or didn't even know that she was doing it.

Click to read more ...

forty-some days without meat?

With Lent beginning this Wednesday or next Monday for many Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, an ever growing number of Protestants and Evangelicals are also looking to honor in some way the ancient Christian period of fasting leading up to Easter.  See, for example, an informative and encouraging review of the practice by Rev. Ken Collins. 

The first two traditions have typically included abstaining from meat in their fasting, though in some cases seafood is permitted, while in other forms of fasting even non-flesh animal products are avoided as well.  But I wonder if many of us who are descendants of the Reformation consider fasting from meat or other animal products in any capacity as a legitimate, even vibrant, way of honoring Lent?  

Click to read more ...

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)

a fast for all of us

We have just a couple of posts left in the compassionate eating series, which has included a look at the cruelty of factory farming and other reasons to seek out more humanely raised animal products, and also some encouragement to consider cutting back on meat for similar reasons and beyond.  Along those last lines, I wanted to be sure to share a reflection which I wrote a while back called "A Fast for All of Us: the Animals, the Earth, our Neighbors and our Creator."

Click to read more ...