How it is...really

As we are obviously lovers of all of Life's participants, I'm quite sure that we have encountered in our day-to-day those people who look upon us with incredulity at the love and devotion that we show the non-humans.  This is what I have to say to those folk who think that plants and animals are “just plants and animals”…

As all mystics and religions will tell us, the true state of the universe is infinity and eternity.  Therefore, in infinity and eternity, where all things are One (also a theme of all spiritual teachings), how could any one thing be more or less than any other?  We are not greater beings for being human.  We are “just humans”.

The truth is, an animal is an animal so long as one limits it to that definition.  But the more time and energy we put into a relationship with a non-human, the more we get back from it, the deeper, more complex, more dynamic that relationship becomes.  People are astounded that my dogs have never been on a leash in their lives (aside from crossing the odd busy street), that they can play in a field of sheep without chasing them, that these dogs actually listen to what is being talked about.

I have been honoured and privileged to have had interaction with the non-human realms my whole life.  It's wonderful to be connecting with all of you who also hold them dear.  Thanks Jen for the invite!

Re: How it is...really

Beautiful, Shep! I'm right there aligned with these thoughts … - J

Re: How it is...really

Then there's the common question…”Are those your dogs?”.  To shift peoples' thinking around relationships with other living beings, we need to shift the language we use in discussing them.  And so I reply…”We're here together”, or “They're with me”.  If discussion continues beyond that, I sometimes have to opportunity to express that I see myself merely as the intermediary between the human-dominated world and the real world, and steward or guardian rather than the “owner” of the dogs.  I don't know if anyone really gets it, but I don't push.

How are other folk addressing this kind of thing?

Re: How it is...really

I hear you!  I have a similar reaction to the “is that your dog/bird/etc?” question.  Except that I often reply, “Well, no, actually I'm their human”

But here's a story that got me more than my fair share of concerned looks today. 

We have mice in our yard.  As intelligent creatures, they avoid the flight cages with raptors that eat mice.  But last night, they managed to get into the house.  We heard them chewing in the ceiling of my son's bathroom.  At 1:15am, I went in there to get him some osha root syrup for his cough and found a giant hole in the wall and 4 mice in the bathtub. 

So of course, I boxed them up and kept them for release the next morning.  But there was a Momma and baby in the mix and the baby was wet.  I thought they'd keep each other warm but when I checked them at 6am, the baby looked nearly dead. 

What else could I do?  I put him and his Momma on heat with a warm rice sock and gave him some special liquid that we use for mammals.  Then I gave them both some oats to eat.  Thankfully, he came back and by 11:30, we were able to release them both together in a nearby wilderness area.  They took off together and found a great hiding place.  What a happy day!

Our neighbors, who all spray and use pest services, were not at all amused.  But my son got a LOT out of the experience.  Now, I'm not an idiot.  We live in an area where mice commonly carry bubonic plague and hanta virus.  And we are going to plug up all the holes and make our yard much less attractive to mice.  But poison… no way!  My son pointed out to his dad tonight that, while people get upset about mice causing damage to their homes, we all live on destroyed habitat that once contained a plethora of animal homes, now thoroughly destroyed.  I could not have been more proud of him.

Kristin

Re: How it is...really

Very well said Shep! ONE LOVE!

Re: How it is...really

I find the feline friends I do have ground me. They are too sacred for words.