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By Chris Adams

I haven’t always been a true animal lover. Although I grew up with dogs and had a very special relationship with a miniature dachshund named Littles during my childhood, I still wouldn’t have called myself an animal lover.
They often seemed in the way, underfoot, and always with one eye on my food.

When my wife and I were first married, I was sure that the dog she brought into the relationship was the most annoying dog I had ever met and would bark me to death. With her loud and persistent yapping, maybe she is the reason I need hearing aids at 39.

Along the way, something happened. Our family adopted a tiny kitten named Lucario, who changed my life forever. For the first 37 years of my life, I was allergic to cats. Deeply, tragically allergic to them. For reasons I still don’t understand, my allergy vanished and so, when my family badgered me into agreeing to a rescue cat, I was able to nuzzle his neck and rub his tiny belly without feeling the grip of asthma take hold of my lungs. As I rubbed his belly for the first time, something happened to my soul. It was like a religious conversion or falling head over heels in love with someone. As fast as the blink of an eye, I became a true animal lover.

Since then, Lucario unexpectedly died. He left a hole in my heart the size of the Grand Canyon, and I never thought I’d recover. But God has a way of surprising us, and so during our grief, we were asked to foster a momma cat and her kittens. We failed at being foster parents because we kept the momma and three of her kittens and have since rescued another cat that would have ended up sick and lonely. Now, she thrives.

My family has five cats and two dogs. Some may call us crazy, but I call us blessed by God. Being surrounded by their personalities, hearing their little noises, and being gripped by their tiny paws connects me with the beauty and diversity of nature. They center me in the universe by reminding me that I am deeply connected to everything around me. By being connected to nature through the beauty and mystery of my seven pets, I am connected more to the God who looks upon the world and calls it good and beautiful. In a sense, I am more human, more alive, because of the tenderness of these animals.

With all the horror in the world and all the division and anxiety being amplified during this election cycle, it’s good for us to seek out and embrace things of beauty. These things elevate our spirits and help us become the best versions of ourselves.

My cats and dogs are like the sacraments of my church, physical signs of the goodness and grace of God. Late at night, when my family has gone to sleep and I’m lying on my side struggling to drift off, I often feel a paw on my arm or a wet nose on mine. Instead of bothering me, I think to myself, ‘The world is a beautiful place.’ The old Chris would never understand what I’m saying right now. And I thank God for that. I’m an animal lover, and I’m a better man for it.

Chris Adams is the Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington