Brother Richard

Recognize that by being fully what it was meant to be, it is fulfilling divine will and love.

A dog is simply dog.

A cat is simply cat.

A bird is simply bird, and while there are individual personalities to each, of course,

The dog is not trying to be something else other than what it is.

The cat is not trying to be something else other than what it is.

The bird or whatever other kind of animal you wish to consider is not trying to be anything else other than what it is.

So receive now the first teaching of the animals.

How can we live so that we are fully who and what we are?

How can we live from the fullness of our human nature, just as they have lived from the fullness of their animal nature?

Begin to recognize them as the elders and teachers they are,

sent amongst us to teach, to remind us, to enter fully into the present moment, to enter fully into who we are, to live from that perspective.

And for a moment or two, you might like to bring to mind

moments, memories, connections, inspiration even, that the animal world has brought to you over the years.

To begin to dwell in gratitude, to open the door of your heart to the possibility of connection

to recognize at the very least the beauty of these beings and our responsibility to them as stewards of creation.

Breathing in, I touch the animal awareness of my own body.

Breathing out, I realize I am in connection with every other being that exists.

Breathing in, I choose to dwell in the present moment.

Breathing out, I choose to learn this skill from the animal teachers around me.