Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, November 6, 2008


I care not much for a man's religion whose
dog and cat are not the better for it.

- President Abraham Lincoln, elected on this day,
1860


I guess we have no idea what might have provoked Mr. Lincoln’s comment. But it sends my mind two ways at least. And both are obvious.

One is, “religion” is an everyday affair. It is usually anchored in corporate weekly worship, and by daily affirmation of some sort (prayer, meditation, reflection, acts of self-remembrance, etc), but, to be authentic, it must extend to the cat and dog, metaphorically and literally speaking. It must be whole, and include every aspect of one’s Life. If one is a materially blessed cat or dog, then one has a responsibility to the poor cat or dog. You get the drift.

The other is, all Life is connected. The whole Creation is a living organism. The health of one effects the health of it all. If Mother Earth is suffering, or neglected, or exploited, the effects of that will poison us all.

I choose not to support any entity, be it corporation or politician or nation, that doesn’t care about the dog and cat.

Brian+