Summer 2024

The stars shine in their watches and rejoice. When God calls them, they say, "Here we are!" And so with cheerfulness they show light to him who made them.i

Greetings!

Last week, while I was seed shopping at the Essex Coop, the manager and I began to chat about squirrels and how they conquer every SQUIRREL-PROOF feeder. I suggested that these very clever rodents draw up blueprints, indicating distances and jumping angles, so that they can calculate access routes. Wes disagreed; he thought they log on to Squirrel YouTube channels & watch “how to” videos.

Both of us agreed that they are smarter than us. And both of us were delighted by that fact. Squirrels are fun and humbling at the same time – perfect for keeping us grounded in our own creatureliness.

For we, like our fluffy and feathered neighbours, are all part of God’s Creation. All children of the same Heavenly Parent. All filled with the Divine presence. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) stated that, “God is in all things, and innermostly.”ii

Innermostly! What a marvellous way to describe God’s indwelling! Butterflies, beluga whales, and basset hounds are all bearers of the Holy. Our Creator is as deeply embedded in squirrels as he is in you and me. No wonder we can’t keep them out of our bird feeders!

I can imagine God-in-the-squirrel having a good laugh with God-in-me as I fail yet again to keep Her Furriness out of the suet. Hot pepper suet that animals are supposed to hate! I hope I’m not giving my squirrel siblings stomach-ache. … Should I add an antacid to the feeder?

For those of us who are passionate about our planet, this radical indwelling - this “deep incarnation” – is good news.iii The Holy One is on Nature’s side. She is IN Nature’s self.

All created life reflects God’s glory. And the more creatures can flourish - in their own unique ways - the more the Creator is honoured.

Squirrelness glorifies God!

Have fun-in-the-sun with God!

Find your own “squirrelness”!

And may this summer richly bless you.

Brenda

---

i Baruch 3: 34-35, World English Bible

ii Thomas Aquinas, in Elizabeth Johnson, “Come, Have Breakfast,” Orbis Books, 2024

iii Niels Gregerson, ibid.