I didn’t grow up with pets, so the whole world of domesticated animals has only recently been opened up to me. First we came back from the pet store with 2 fish in a plastic bag. Atticus died all too soon (our googling wasn’t keeping up with their rate of ammonium production) leaving behind valiant Boo. We realised Boo needed a new friend so then we welcomed Scout to the tank. Though Boo was valiant, Scout was viscious, and constantly chased and tormented Boo at feeding time. Time covered over a multitude of Scout’s sins and they became happy enough friends… until the fateful night Boo leaped out of the tank onto the kitchen counter. There is something terribly stressful about dying and dead fish. We mourned Boo’s loss even more than Atticus’, and don’t tell him this, but not even Jem can make up for the hole in our hearts!
In February this year we adopted guinea pig Munchee from the friends she earned her name from. Munchee has been a most delightful addition to our home; she brings us (and all our visitors) great joy with her cute little ways.
But I’m rambling like a doting parent. The point of all this was in fact to muse aloud about what a satisfying thing it’s been to learn a little of what it means to ‘rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’. (Genesis 1:26)
It is such a pleasure to image God’s benevolent rule over us, as we ‘rule’ over our little fish and guinea pig. Especially because of our interaction with a culture that holds quite a utilitarian view of animals, even seeing ‘food’ where others see ‘friends’ (!), I’ve loved getting up close and personal with animals in a new way. We love learning new and creative ways to interact with our pets and anticipate and meet their small but real needs. We enjoy their small but real recognitions of us (yes, even the fish!) even if we do exaggerate and personify them a little too much. :p
It is a privilege to be in a God-given position of authority and responsibility, and to be able to choose to wield this in a way that honours His intentions and His care for His creaturely world. And as I express my joy in and affection for little Munchee and talk to her about her Creator, it makes me look forward to His new Creation – shared as it will be with animals living in perfect harmony with humans and Him.
…
I cannot now remember whether she was naked or clothed. If she were naked, then it must have been the almost visible penumbra of her courtesy and joy which produces in my memory the illusion of a great and shining train that followed her across the happy grass. If she were clothed, then the illusion of nakedness is doubtless due to the clarity with which her inmost spirit shone through the clothes. …
‘Is it? …is it?’ I whispered to my guide.
‘Not at all,’ said he. ‘It’s someone ye’ll never have heard of. Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green.’
‘She seems to be… well, a person of particular importance?’
‘Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things.’
…
‘And how… but hullo! What are all these animals? A cat – two cats – dozens of cats. And all those dogs… why, I can’t count them. And the birds. And the horses.’
‘They are her beasts.’
‘Did she keep a sort of zoo? I mean, this is a bit too much.’
‘Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.’
I looked at my Teacher in amazement.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It is like when you throw a stone into a pool, and the concentric waves spread out further and further. Who knows where it will end? Redeemed humanity is still young, it has hardly come to its full strength. But already there is joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life.’
CS Lewis, The Great Divorce, p97-99
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