All Creatures Great and Small

Good afternoon, sisters and brothers;

Back thirty or so years ago Nina and I were walking along Big Bear Creek which bisects Dunblane Farm. We happened to stop near a tree that had fallen into the creek. We climbed down the embankment to take off our shoes and dip our feet into the cool water. As we sat there with our feet in the water, dragonflies hovered above and frogs and toads spied us suspiciously, half submerged in water. It was an ideal summer afternoon, the kind that might have inspired Mark Twain to put pen to paper and write The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.As we were getting ready to leave, our attention was drawn to a crook in one of the branches of the fallen tree . It was a large snapping turtle that was completely wedged in the crook. And it was dead, or so we thought. I stepped toward gingerly. The snapper did not move. I grabbed its shell and began trying to free it. I did not want to leave the poor soul to rot in the blazing summer heat. I was making progress when the turtle's eyes suddenly opened. It felt like I had just awakened Dracula from a deep sleep. I am pretty sure that the International Space Station heard me scream at that moment. We stared into each other"s eyes for several seconds before the snapper freed itself and plunged into the cool water. I had loosened it enough to set it free. It swam away gracefully, leaving ripples in its wake. We called this snapper Chompers, and that was the last we ever saw of him. 

This morning Nina called me while she was out on a bike ride. She said that there was a snapping turtle on the side of the road and she was worried that it would be crushed by a tractor. She was hoping that I could come and save the turtle. In the 43 years that I have lived at Dunblane Farm, I have saved countless animals in distress. Horses, cats, skunks, raccoons, dogs, birds, snakes, frogs. So helping another of God's creatures was a no brainer. As soon as I arrived at the spot, I wondered if this snapper might not be related to Chompers. Chompers Jr was uncooperative from the start. It charged at me and viciously bit the shovel I had brought . I had to flip it on its back and scoop it into the shovel. It was thrashing and hissing, and its eyes seemed to be blazing. I managed to make my way down the embankment of the creek to the water's edge. Chompers Jr seemed to sense that freedom was at hand, and it settled down. I plunked it into the creek, and like Chompers Sr so many years ago, it swam away gracefully , leaving ripples in the water. 

My actions this morning did not save our broken world, but it did save Chompers Jr. It reminded me that all of God's creatures are unique and beautiful. Whether it is a terrifying snapping turtle or a stunning peacock shimmering in iridescent colours, all animals deserve love. All God's creatures deserve to live free from fear. 

I am reminded of the wonderful hymn called All Things Bright and Beautiful. 

All things bright and beautiful

All creatures great and small

All things wise and wonderful

The Lord, God made them all. 

Each little flower that opens

Each little bird that sings

He made their glowing colours

He made their tiny wings

He gave us eyes to see them

And lips that we might tell

How great is God almighty

Who has made all things well

Please be kind to all animals. 

The world will be a better place because of this. 

Paz 

Que Diosito me los colme de bendiciones siempre

Con mucho amor

Padre Juan