OH my

Our daughter's puppy, ChiliPepper, and I were watching the PBS program Nature. It was about the animals that had been abandoned, in New Orleans last year during the hurricane, because they couldn't be taken when people were rescued. This was about a group of folks going out and trying to get the pets to come with them to shelter.
It may have been the way the dogs barked when the rescurers came near---fear and confusion-- or it may have been how quickly all the ones they showed responded to human touch when they were held, calm and kind. They were in houses that had been abandoned, some trapped on the roof, some were just skin and bone. All the stories they showed were success. I'm sure there were others and thousands were not saved.
(ChiliPepper would look at the pictures and in her way furrow her brow to look almost like she was pondering what was happening. Ok ok! I know she's a dog. But, sigh, she seemed to understand.)

A couple of nights ago our daughter and I watched an Animal planet program about Meerkat. Meerkat Manor. It was well done. (even though my dad might not have liked it when they talked about them thinking! and reasoning.) One of our favorite, 'characters' was Shakespear. It left us not knowing what exactly happened to him. Talk about tension. On more than one occasion during the program we went "Ahhhhh!" at the cuteness or the funny behavior. This group has been studied for many years and their social structure understood. Ah animal behavior.

We human animals have different codes in different places about how we will behave toward one another. Wearing white in some societies is the color of mourning, not celebration. Some cultures shake hands and others bow to the other person as a greeting. So many different kinds of ways --to be people.

However one thing I think we have in common is compassion. I'll bet if people in most any country saw either of these two animal programs they would have the same responses I did. I'll be they would be touched by the reunion of pet and person. I'll bet they would say Ahhh and laugh when the Meerkat, tired, fell asleep standing up on its hind legs.

What we share is a deep desire to care for one another. And it seems to me, in this world of ours, the humankind one, that we would do well to stretch that kindness and compassion a little further.
Jewel sings a song, Only Kindness Matters.
Here are her lyrics.
JEWEL LYRICS

"Hands"

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands
In the end, only kindness matters

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2006

Rev. Dr. Bobbie Giltz McGarey