As I’ve mentioned in earlier Blogs, on days when Frank is doing the
driving, I often read out loud from a book that we have chosen and
placed in the car beforehand. Today I want to tell you about our latest
choice:
Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care by Andrew Linzey
is absolutely outstanding in every way! The prayers in this remarkable
book are so uplifting and so beautiful that I know God inspired them.
While writing this Blog, I’m trying to find the words to describe the
way my very soul is touched by the magnificence of these liturgies, and
to rejoice that there are some people in this fallen world who have
allowed their hearts and souls to be taught and transformed by our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Here is a portion of just one of the many prayers from this book that
resonate with me and cause me to say, “Yes! This is truth!”:
Merciful God
we are made in your image
but we have made gods of ourselves;
we have turned your creatures
into things and machines,
making them objects of our sport
using them for our vanity,
exploiting them for our greed
and stealing their lives;
but you are the liberating God
who can transform
even ourselves;
help us to turn from
our evil
and embrace
the vision
of your peaceable
kingdom:
They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah. 11:9, RSV)
My prayer is that Andrew Linzey’s much-needed book of Animal Rites,
Liturgies of Animal Care will find a place everywhere and will be a
catalyst of positive change, lifting us all closer to God’s original
intent for His entire creation.
Also see:
Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care
