The Animals Welcomed God

Merry Christmas!  Christmas is a big event in all of the animal world because we were there to welcome God before anyone else (except for Mary and Joseph, of course.)  We Collies get into the spirit of this holiday easily: God came to be with all creatures!  It makes more sense to celebrate this event than any other event I know of.  I barked a Merry Christmas to my neighbor Irish Setters when they came up the driveway today.  They answered back with a lovely howl. 

I am enclosing a photo of the creche handmade by Sisters Aggie and Carol over 20 years go.  They made it out of breaddough* and Carol puts it up on the mantle every year.  I hope you take time to re-enjoy the treasures of your life these days.  May your memories be happy ones.  May your new year make many more moments to recall with gratitude next Christmas.

*From Clare's Well recipe book p.151

I Remember Snow

I remember snow!  This is the first real snow we've received since I stopped using my eyes last spring.  No fear.  The yard is still the same to me. I spent some time out there today exploring Earth with her new cover.  Literally, "Cool."  My personal photographer took this photo at sunset; can you see the color?  I hear the snow's reflection of the colors of the setting sun improves the image of my white fur against the snow.  I have to say, all of creation works in my favor. 

The Sisters are taking more time during these days of Advent to notice what God is doing in our lives.  From what I know about Advent as a time to remember the presence of God embodied in creation, taking time to notice sounds like a common sense thing to do.  I wish I could tell them all that I notice in snow.  Who is blind? 

From a Dog's Eye

There has been a lot of action at Clare's Well lately. 

Halloween brought the neighboorhood trick-or-treaters.  My ears perked up at the sound of "treat!"  I didn't need eyesight to recognize my little friends from next door. We are too far out in the country for many children to come. I and the Sisters are happy when Tanner and Madi show us their costumes.

A squash caused a lot of excitement in the kitchen last week. How could a common garden squash raise such exclamations?  Sister Carol explained and said it weighed almost as much as I do.  I've heard that every meal this week contained a squash entre of one kind or another even though some of this giant was given away and some of it was frozen. 

The construction workers came to reshingle the roof of the farmhouse.  Mother Nature did her best to make the November weather pleasant for the roofers. Nice weather or not, I choose to stay out of the yard and indoors.  You know how it is when one gets used to certain pathways only to find them blocked with strange vehicles and other obstacles.  I find with my blindness it takes more energy than I want to give to learn new routes through the yard.  I even hear the Sisters say sometimes that they get tired more easily than they used to with the many new things these days bring.  It is good there are four of them here now. It takes every one of us to keep this place going.  We help each other when a day's events feel overwhelming.  I hope you have someone to help you grow through your challenges.

IF THEY CAN GET ALONG . . . .

How do you promote good relationships even when you yourself don't fit in?  Maybe we could share some ideas about this.  Here is an example of what I do.  It might not be the best, but it is a start.

I get along well with cats (well, with most cats); goats, however, are usually not happy to have me around.  Because it is good to promote good dialogue, I walked away from this conversation so that Hank and Sunny could converse without any problem with my presence.  If Sunny (the cat) can get along with both Hank and myself, he can help to bridge the gap between me and Hank.

GOD CONTINUES TO CREATE

Everytime I turn around there is something new on this piece of Earth.  This week more guinea chicks came strutting out with their protective mother, aunts and uncles hovering all around.  My Franciscan care-takers go a bit ecstatic at evidence such as this that God still believes in creation and can't seem to get enough of pouring out life and beauty.

I notice Clare's Well guests kind of "wake up" when they see the tiny birds with the gaudy yellow legs stumbling over blades of grass behind their mother.  Sometimes this sight makes people laugh.  Sometimes they just stop and watch. The presence of newborn anything touches all of us.  Right?

The guinea mother tries to be caring and protective.  I identify with her as I watch her guarding her scurrying children all day and tucking them under her wings at night.  This is how I feel about those entrusted to my care.  Wish I had wings . . . .