Rev. George Miller
July 12, 2026
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
July 2002 was the loneliest summer of my
life. After 9 months of heavenly living
at Eden Seminary, everything came to an end.
It was the 1st year of Seminary- living, learning, dining, and worshipping
on campus.
Every week surrounded by folk from around
the globe, studying the Word of God, going to Chapel 3 days a week, Communion on
Thursday and homecooked meals on Sunday.
Going to Coffee Kartel, studying side by side, making meaningful connections.
One day, it all ends: school year is over,
everyone but me leaves. A campus thriving
with community is now empty it’s just me...
…and the birds. Months ago I set up a bird feeder. Since I lived in a garden level apartment, I
could look out the windows and enjoy a ground-level view of the birds enjoying
their morning meal.
Thank God.
Those birds saved my sanity and soothed my loneliness. For 3 months they gave me the 1 reason to get
out of bed.
Each day those feathery creatures gathered
by the feeder, singing and squawking, waking me up, waiting to be fed. There
was no sleeping in or bed rotting. To silence
their sounds I had to get up, get dressed, put on shoes and step into the sun.
Thank God for those birds, their impatient
songs by the window.
Thank God for the gifts of animals and
pets, dogs and cats, snakes and fishtanks, parakeets and guinea pigs that allow
us to be generous spirits, discovering that we need them as much as they need
us.
Today is “Worship and Wags.” We acknowledge the role animal companions
play in our lives and reflect God’s “pawesome love.”
What a testimony to our pets’ place in our
life that we welcome them in this sacred sanctuary. All of God’s Creation is worthy; if they bark
with joy, purr with contentment or sing at sunrise.
A few days ago, Tik Tok influencer Gabby
Bernstein had a guest explain why we have such an emotional attachment to our pets.
According to them, when we have an animal
companion, we are in “our purest spirit when we’re aligning with the animal.” As
Gabby writes in her post-
“Our pets will love us without conditions,
without expectations, without asking us to be anyone other than ourselves.”
That version of ourselves that our cats
and dogs bring out is the beautiful and holy version of ourselves that feels “completely
loved, completely safe, and completely connected.”
In other words, our pets empower us to
embody and experience God’s “Pawesome Love.”
A love that accepts us for who we are; as
we are. A love that is mutual. And a love that thrives in generosity and a
generous spirit.
This connects to our reading from Ecclesiastes
which has been going on and on about how life seems unfair, redundant, and pointless
since all of us will die.
Last week, the author commented that at
least life becomes doable when we are united.
Today they share another insight: if we know we must work and we are all
going to die, then eat, drink, have fun, do things that bring you happiness.
“Hey, since you work hard, enjoy what you
earn. Be generous with yourself and others. Don’t hoard money in a way that makes you miserable;
use it in ways that bring joy.”
How many pet parents resonate with this? That moment you walk into the store to buy
your beloved animal their food, treat, or toy?
The joy of dilly-dallying for our Heidis
and our Guineveres, as we check out all the flavors and textures of pet food- pate,
flaked, grilled, extra gravy.
Since caring for our pets is a form of
caring for ourselves, we feel a joy that comes from being selfless and buying
something they like.
Shopping for our pets becomes a sense of
joyful generosity. You know what dry
food they prefer; the toys they like, what kind of seed the birds will eat, which
flakes our fish most enjoy.
Making sure our reptiles have the right
heat lamp to stay warm and tasty crickets to devour. Which accessories keep our rodents
occupied.
Today’s scripture reminds us that life is
but for a moment, so enjoy it, eat, drink, have joy, work hard so you can treat
yourself.
Isn’t this one of Jesus’ messages? He
talked about heaven being on earth wanting us to see God’s Kingdom in the here and
now.
Jesus told about the lost sheep that was
found and used a donkey to symbolize new life breaking in.
In the UCC we not only share the good news
of Christ, we discuss how God’s covenant is with all of creation-
the soil and air, the cosmos and animals,
our furry, scaly and feathery companions.
We see this nationally in the STAR Coalition
which shares how small town and rural churches have a special relationship with
the land, their livestock, and pets.
We see this in UCC churches across the country
like 1st Congregational in Manchester, Vermont that brings attention
to pets displaced by disaster and war.
St. Peter’s in South Bend, Indiana offers
free microchipping and rabies vaccines.
Trinity UCC in Canton, Ohio has a pet
chaplain on staff to be there for pets are ill or facing end of life.
St. Louis has Lydia’s House with their
Purple Leash Project, creating a pet-friendly environment for families displaced
by violence. Purina strives to make
these safe spaces possible.
Here at St. Lucas, love of Creation takes
place with our recycling program and Earth Care Ministry; our Annual Pet
Blessing and upcoming Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day service.
Today’s reading reminds us to enjoy what
we work for. If the author lived in
today’s time, perhaps they would say to get yourself a dog or a cat, put out a
birdfeeder, or set up fishtank.
Our beloved pets have a way of bringing
out the inner Christ that dwells within us.
Our cats and canines not only love and depend
on us, but encourage the most genuine, most generous, purest, version of
ourselves to manifest.
God’s “pawesome love” is found
within them, allowing calm, connection and heaven in the right here, right
now, in a morning song, a gentle purr, or the wag of a tail, all which says
“You are my joy.”
Amen
and amen.
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