Today, October 4, is St. Francis Day!
This is the day we haul our pets for the annual Blessing of Animals. Perhaps this song with its lyrics below would suffice rather than leading our companions on this road to a blessing.
I look up and I see God
I look down and see my dog
Simple spelling G-o-d
same word backwards d-o-g
They would stay with me all day,
I’m the one who walks away
But both of them just wait for me
and dance at my return with glee
Both love me no matter what
divine God and canine mutt
I take it hard each time I fail
but God forgives, dog wags his tail
God thought up and made the dog,
dog reflects a part of God
I’ve seen love from both sides now
It’s everywhere - Amen, bow-wow
I look up and I see God
I look down and see my dog
And in my human frailty
I can’t match their love for me.
- Song by Wendy Francisco
Any pet offers us the opportunity for companionship. And it’s God who planted this desire for companionship within us and that’s because God desires companionship with us!
The Lord is not only God-with-us (Emmanuel), but also God-who-WANTS-to-be-with-us.]
God desires us - and we are made to desire God.
Every relationship we have, every love that is ours, is a companionship given to lead us to God.
