All God’s Creatures
Written by: Megan Bensley
Being human is no easy task. And to be human means accepting the creaturely-ness that we have been born into. Despite every effort we might make to control, organize and order our lives, God affirms His ultimate control over us time and time again throughout our lives; usually in some sort of suffering way. As humans, none of us are exempt from the pains of teething, the awkwardness of puberty, or the losses of far too many things— love, memory, hair, and life. Yet each of us has been promised that we will be taken care of by our Creator and Caretaker, our God. There is something profoundly refreshing in knowing that we are not in control; we will weather certain landmarks but be taken care of and supported in each moment, distressing or otherwise. This relationship of “Creator to creature” reminds me much of “master and pet.” I recently heard the poet Edward Hirsch read of this latter relationship in his poem “Wild Gratitude.” In the poem, Hirsch compares intricacies of his relationship with his cat Zooey to that of 18th Century British poet Cristopher Smart and his beloved cat Jeoffrey. The underlying message is that we can learn how to be better creatures, better servants and better celebrators of our creaturely-ness by looking at the things we take care of, and sometimes take for granted, our cats*. (Substitute here any trusty sidekick, furry or otherwise, that tickles your fancy.)
Smart writes:
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion. For he is of the Lord’s poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually – Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat. (From: “For My Cat Jeoffrey”)
After observing his own cat, Hirsch comments on what he has learned from his own adored Zooey in his poem “Wild Gratitude”:
And only then did I understand
It is Jeoffry—and every creature like him—
Who can teach us how to praise—purring
In their own language,
Wreathing themselves in the living fire.
As you go about another busy day remember to celebrate this creature-like life. Even when you’re tired as a dog and wish a little more order, a little more power could come your way, remember the cat Jeoffrey, whose mixture of gravity and waggery celebrates the fact that God is his Saviour, God is his caretaker, God is in control.
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