Comments on: Lessons from an Owl

By: Solomie Jebessa Deribessa

Solomie Jebessa Deribessa — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:43:45 +0000

Hi Phillip, this is very nice article,too. After reading this one and the reading wars, I am planning to have an intentional retreat for my self, quitting off every distraction.

Thank you and God bless you!

By: Elaine Mostaert

Elaine Mostaert — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:57:19 +0000

Thank you Philip for this very special post.
Since 1997 my husband and I have lived on a 5 acre block in county Queensland Australia.
One of the greatest joys in living here has been sharing the land with native animals whose home this was long before our arrival. Among others, a mob of kangaroos loafs around each morning watching as we go about our business, brush tail possums turn up each evening, a koala climbs a gum tree seeking an ideal spot to sleep off the day and a echidna moves through the grass.
Then there are the many glorious birds.
How wonderful is out God’s creation and how blessed are we.

By: Charles Yates

Charles Yates — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:42:47 +0000

This certainly gives an entirely fresh perspective on “Be Still and Know” that is repeated in the Bible. Likewise the modern phrase of “stop and take time to smell the flowers.” The more we rush through life, the less we enjoy it.

By: Vicki Anderholt

Vicki Anderholt — Tue, 20 May 2025 08:43:58 +0000

If ONLY humans would treat BOTH humans and animals with love care and compassion- what a world it could be!
But that doesn’t come till heaven ! Can’t wait!

By: troyez

troyez — Tue, 20 May 2025 02:18:54 +0000

The Francis of Assisi quote: “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”

This statement is so true! For the past 20+ years I have fed, taken in, and found homes for many cats that have been dumped near my workplace; the town I live in has so many cats running the streets yet many people do nothing to help them, even in the most bitter parts of winter. At the same time the town has also grown a small population of homeless people, And in the face of such need I see so many huge, beautiful houses and shining, new vehicles around town, yet the cats and the people are left to fend for themselves. I do what I can for both the people and the cats, but I am at the low-end of the financial ladder; I am constantly asking God to raise up people of all kinds to help both man and beast, but people are consistently greedy and look out number one no matter what. I ask God to lift up people of means, of influence, and just people who are willing to help, but the Francis of Assisi quote holds true.

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Tue, 20 May 2025 02:04:47 +0000

In reply to carol hollingshead. I do, though we have few clues as to what form they will take. Apparently, teeth and claws won't be so important there.

By: Juanita White

Juanita White — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:11:11 +0000

I love this post. I would be happy to spend every day, all day, in the wild photographing wildlife. This is often where I feel closest to God. It’s so depressing to think that so many of our wild creatures are disappearing off the face of the earth.

By: carol hollingshead

carol hollingshead — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:02:50 +0000

Philip, do you believe that there will be animals in Heaven?

By: Patrick Boothe

Patrick Boothe — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:03:54 +0000

Philip, thank you for that post. That was interesting. I can’t help wonder if Francis is making a more spiritual reference and then further wonder if God‘s expectation for me as a human and my relationship to the animals something more like what we see in Daniel chapter 7, where we not only are compassionate with the animals, but we are willing to suffer at the jaws of the animals. It does also raise questions about what the true meaning of the lifted horn and the victor Psalm 148 really means. it seems King Solomon knew a lot about this and wrote often of animals and plants yet he still fell in the end which is a disturbing thought, thank God for Jesus.

By: Douglas Daily

Douglas Daily — Mon, 19 May 2025 15:30:08 +0000

We too share in the joys of backyard birding. We live in a suburban setting so see limited animals but we do have regular squirrel visitors and the occasional possum and skunk. We have been doing this long enough that we have generations of birds and squirrels. We love being able to help the wildlife and see God’s glory in our menagerie.