An animal enters a whole new world when it gets a name. An animal without a name is one of many – just an indistinguishable part of a set. But when an animal is named, it becomes part of, connected to, the one who gave it a name. In wars, the enemy rarely holds an individual name. We usually...

  Where no gods are, spectres rule. Novalis One time I took a group of people in the drug rehab program to the local zoo. Most of our group had been to prison – some for years. Most were felons. Most of the women had been prostitutes as well as addicts. Most of them had been homeless, had lengthy...

To the tune of the prayer of St. Francis of Asissi; we sing it silently as we live among one another. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. One that diminishes hatred and crescendos love. One that fills the backbeat of every injury with pardon. One that harmonizes every doubt with a root note of...

Last month I flew out to Michigan to represent Burnside at the Festival of Faith and Writing (FFW).  I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Midwest.  I mean, I’m from Manhattan.  My perception is that the Midwest must be so cold, flat, and boring that anyone with any shred of culture wants...

“Kim, I think I feel a lump,” Bjoern said as he felt our Rottweiler’s neck.  It was a snowy January afternoon in Indiana, and we were cozily hunkered down in front of the fireplace.  Cuddling with Brigitte, the dog, my husband had discovered the tumor that would steal her away from us that April,...

My wife loves almost all animals, but she has a special affinity for creatures who look markedly more pathetic than all of the others.  While this trait of hers has caused me some aggravation over the years, I’m not too upset about it.  Without it she would never have agreed to marry me.  But...

Some time ago, I read some sort of theological, very important book. And that book answered, along with many other questions, “Do animals go to heaven?” That answer was ‘no’. And my mind was blown. Not for any deep theological reason, you see. My mind was blown because WHO CARES?...

I’m not trying to crowd out Bryan’s awesome entry below, but there is some scientistic evidence that viewing photos of cute things (babies, puppies, kittens, etc.) can actually cause your body to release endorphins, which make you feel good without first causing immense pain (like when I...