Ministry of Animals

DANCE

Posted on December 25, 2017 by eteal

Dance with Joy

Dance with Hope.

Dance with Love.

Dance with Peace.

Dance with Possibility.

But where ever you are,

whomever you are with,

DANCE.

(stomp, leap, twirl, sleep. repeat.)

Posted in Dao Dogs, The Now, therapy dog | Tagged dance, holidays, holly, hope, joy, life, Liz Teal, love, mixed breed dogs, painting, peace, poem, poetry, positive, possibilities, Reverend Elizabeth Teal, self actualization, sumi-e | Leave a comment

Protections

Posted on December 22, 2017 by eteal

He was big. A huge cat.

With huge cheek shields…

Feral and untouchable,

Looking like British gentlemen mobster in his soft grey suit and white gloves.

Somehow he had been given the innocuous name of Mittens …

(Bullies come in all shapes, and names)

He scaled the tree with alacrity,

Possibly seeking the squirrel nest at the top?

But was thwarted by the smallest of cats,

A little tabby girl, climbed up after him,

Having had enough of his swaggering ways in the yard,

She chased him out on a limb…

And then simply curled up in the crook of the tree to nap,

As the squirrels evacuated across the canopy.

Sometimes we can change the course of the day

Or a life

by simply taking a nap at the right place and time.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animals, art, brush painting, bullies, bullying, cats, chasing, daily practice, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, Elizabeth Teal., feral cats, ink brush painting, Liz Teal, love, nature, non-violent activism, passive resistance, Poems, poetry, sacred activism, spirituality, squirrels, stories, sumi-e, tuxedo cats | Leave a comment

Brutal blessings

Posted on December 21, 2017 by eteal

I sit outside,

While battles rage inside and out.

The raptor swoops,

And glides…

Returning to make sure I saw Her.

Forget the battles,

Forget the war…

Remember what we came here for.

LOVE.

Posted in The Now | Tagged art, bird of prey, blessings, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, Elizabeth Teal., faith, hawks, ink brush painting, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, life as metaphor, Liz Teal, love, meditation, mysticism, nature, observation, poetry, raptors, shamanic, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment

guest

Posted on December 20, 2017 by eteal

little green breakfast frog

the tiniest green frog

joined me today

in my fog.

e hopped across the table to my mug of tea,

and in the shadow of my bowl

gave me company.

blessed be.

Posted in The Now | Tagged being sick, breakfast, cup of tea, green frog, ink, lunch, mugs of tea, poem, poetry, recovery, rice paper, sumi-e, tree frogs, water color, wildlife | Leave a comment

Love & devotion

Posted on December 18, 2017 by eteal

Everyone still thought she was a puppy,

At 13 inches, she was as many moons…

They didn’t see her hair turned gray,

Her muzzle had always been white.

Her eyes now milky, gazed with love on All She saw.

But She was no longer a puppy,

She was a Champion Bitch.

(It’s OKAY for you to be one too)

Posted in The Now | Tagged 13” Beagle, AKC, animal assisted chaplaincy, animals, art, bitch, blessings, brush painting, cataracts, devotion, dog, dog poems, dogs, Elizabeth Teal., ink brush painting, Liz Teal, love, meditation, nature, old dogs, poem, poetry, retired, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment

Peace

Posted on December 18, 2017 by eteal

After standing in the pulpit, i often find myself in the company of cows.

Today, soft brown ones, lying in a field,

Having no need of preaching.

Simply by being there,

They provided pastoral care.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, animals, art, blessings, brown cows, cows, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, faith, florida, gratitude, ink brush painting, interfaith, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, love, mysticism, nature, pastoral care, peace, poetry, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment

Helpers

Posted on December 16, 2017 by eteal

The fattest little black dog in a service dog vest waddled past me,

Walking slightly behind an elderly man with matching whiskers.

“Look at that, ” said two women to my left,

“I think it is disgusting how anyone can put a vest on a dog and call it a service dog…

What can that fat little thing do, for heavens sake!”

And just then, the fat little thing nudged the back of the old man’s leg,

Who turned, and seeing the women, tipped his hat and smiled.

I, whom am also old and fat, took some comfort in that.

May we all be of use.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, art, blessings, dog, Elizabeth Teal., fake service dogs, fat dog, hard of hearing, hearing dogs, judge not, Liz Teal, old man, poetry, service dogs, sumi-e | Leave a comment

Posted on December 15, 2017 by eteal

Two anoles

on a bicycle seat

Unable to reach the pedals,

Discuss options.

Well … maybe not,

They may be simple sunning themselves,

Having used the pedals to reach the summit.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animals, anoles, art, bicycles, bicycling, brush painting, Elizabeth Teal., humor, Liz Teal, lizards, meditation, nature, poetry, sumi-e, tao, zen | Leave a comment

Cylinders

Posted on December 14, 2017 by eteal

Toilet paper tubes are mounting up,

Evidence of both my frugality and my first world privileges.

Kleenex is so much more expensive, and

handkerchiefs are better suited to tears than snot.

But better still,

The cats are thrilled!

And what is more healing than play?

They bounce them, chase them,

Spin and pounce,

And bring joy throughout the house.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted lay therapy, art, blessings, brush painting, cats, cylinders, Elizabeth Teal., gratitude, healing, ink brush painting, Kleenex, lay, Liz Teal, love, meditation, play therapy, poetry, spirituality, sumi-e, the flu, toilet paper tubes | 1 Comment

Comfort and Joy

Posted on December 13, 2017 by eteal

Find yourself surrounded by comfort freely given.

Heal with joy!

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, art, blessings, cats, comfort, dogs, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, healing, home sick, ink brush painting, interfaith, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, joy, love, multi pet household, mysticism, nature, poetry, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment