Kadi

I had never grieved a death before. Even that of my brother, my father, and Grandmother. There had been loss of friends and loved ones in my life, but I always knew they went to a better place. Relatives, acquaintances and fellow soldiers -- no matter -- when they left my life, I was not burdened by the heartwrench others felt. I guess I didn't understand grief really. I knew only intellectually why others were so saddened, but didn't relate on a heart level. Because of this it wasn't easy for me to console them in the midst of such trials. Did I have no compassion?

Then a tragedy touched me. It was the loss of a pet. The night before a trip, I took Kadi to be cared for by another. In the morning I got the call before leaving. Kadi was caught in a closing door. A shock wave of emotion overwhelmed me. I was alone. Very. I wept--like never before. And I understood.

In memory of a hamster that taught me compassion…

Kadi
I cry your name without reason
Repeated like bolts in a blinding storm
And thunder
Call me from where you are
In time
Soft and true
New language learning
The memory of your touch
Kiss of my hand
Light kept in a boundless way
Break down this door
Love the touch
Sing in the light and sound
Come in and call me by name
Bring in the kitten
Sing for the birdsong within you
Fly with the eagles
Dance with the English poets
Calls me from heaven's door
And livens this heart
By washing

--ak

When this soul's body was brought to me, we buried it in a paper box in the yard and marked it with a stone. A sunflower grew there that summer.

There is a lot of life in death understood.

I was reminded of this incident and its lesson when I heard a talk by Linda and Allen Anderson of The Angel Animals Network last Sunday at our church. They and other speakers gave talks on the theme of the book, Animals Are Soul Too by Harold Klemp. If you want to read stories of how other animals are connected to us and their Creator, check out the links.