Fr Robert Hendrickson

Dear Friends in Christ,

There is a branch of theology called natural theology. It has historically been contrasted with a theology of revelation in sacred texts and symbols and rests on the human ability to perceive and rationalize about the ephemeral through our sense of what lies before and around us.

A natural theology can even operate apart from theistic claims and became popular as a way to both acknowledge there is that which we cannot understand but that the gifts of human reason and perception can guide us to their own kind of revelation.

It became popular to differentiate the revealed vs the perceived as a way to distinguish between faith and reason.Given Darwin’s analysis of the evolution of species, the proposition that life developed by chance alone is widely perceived to have a degree of plausibility that was not perceived in previous times. Watching the natural world seemed to threaten the faith of many — and was seen as dangerous by some in religious leadership.

In some ways, the evolution of species, I think, takes us back to natural theology, to the observation of the world for signs of the divine, so that we can re-engage revelation with fresh eyes — and so that we can find ways to better understand what we see and experience by the light of revelation.

All this takes me to a little picture — a snapshot of creation. We’ve been at my in-laws’ home. They have an old dog named Abigail who is the mother of our dog Penelope. They are both dachshunds. Penelope has a brother, Alfred, who still lives with his mom, Abigail.

Abigail is reaching the end of her life and will either die or will need to be put to sleep given a bone cancer that is spreading aggressively. She still likes to bark, eat, and even play with toys but she can no longer really move very far and has to be on lots of pain medication. Her son, Penelope’s brother, never leaves her side. He sleeps by her. He cleans her off. He nuzzles her. Whenever she squeaks or whines or shows discomfort, he heads straight to her to lick and comfort her.

(There’s a picture I took of them below).

None of this behavior has an evolutionary benefit. It might be read as anthropomorphizing a dog’s behavior. I’m seeing it as a small bit of natural theology, even revelation, unfolding in the sitting room. Alfred is keeping some kind of vigil, showing affection and care, trying to offer his own hospice treatment.

Something loving and compassionate is encoded in Alfred. It is encoded deeply in the creation. I’m no theologian but it has felt this week like the natural order of things — life, death, and love — is being revealed in these two pups living their last days together.

May you too see signs of revelation this week as you look about at the wonders God has sealed so surely in our hearts and lives — and in the small creatures who teach us if we pause to listen.

Fr Robert