Our Beloved Pets...

[Lynnbrown]

Since I am posting from here, I feel I shouldn't have to say that God is my master, and I do call myself a Christian. I also interpret scriptures somewhat differently from other So Called Christians. However, here (at hipforrms) I have come across some very (seemingly) like minded people. anyways...

I feel the pets we love, those special animals that we spend time with and SHARE love, blood, sweat and tears with - that we'll see them on the other side. I truly do believe I'll see my beloved but gone cats and dogs when I am allowed to shed this shell. I'm not trying to convince anybody but am interested in if any body feels the same way.

We (my mother and I) recently had a loved mama cat (with 5 small kittens) disappear. We Know she is dead or she would be back for those kittens, and this event has me thinking and reminising about Black Mama Cat. My brother's 17 year old cat died about 2 weeks ago and I cannot but think that Bobbi and Black Mama Cat are laying around Over There, playing with the other waiting animals.

[Lynnbrown]

I should have added that I do not know of any scripture to back up what I think at all. It is just an idea that I got, or was given to me, long, long ago.
Perhaps grief combined with faith and belief in a Higher Power can help one to "think" whatever one needs to, huh... but still I think I'll be seeing some of my animals again.

[xexon]

You must approach life as if it were a school. Because it is.

There are many teaches and many lessons for those who pay attention in class.

Our pets teach compassion and love and charity. All things external to our self centered existance otherwise.

The loss of a teacher does not mean that the lesson has died on the vine.

The seeds they've sown within you grow even now.



x

[Lynnbrown]

Thank you, xenon.

I truly did not realize what a controversial subject this is until I began to look up the subject of animal souls on the net!...wow... shoulda known, huh?

[Ukr-Cdn]

I feel the pets we love, those special animals that we spend time with and SHARE love, blood, sweat and tears with - that we'll see them on the other side. I truly do believe I'll see my beloved but gone cats and dogs when I am allowed to shed this shell. I'm not trying to convince anybody but am interested in if any body feels the same way.

To take a page from CS Lewis' heaven-hell bus ride dream, is that really what you hope for in an afterlife. To see your old friends, family and pets? Shouldn't the hope of an afterlife deal more with being present eternally to God and not having a family reunion.

I am reminded of the Catholic Mass and the hymn sung during the latter part of the liturgy when we unite our vioces with all fo the angels in their "neverending hymn of praise" (it is called the Sanctus if you are interested).

[Lynnbrown]

To take a page from CS Lewis' heaven-hell bus ride dream, is that really what you hope for in an afterlife. To see your old friends, family and pets? Shouldn't the hope of an afterlife deal more with being present eternally to God and not having a family reunion.

I am reminded of the Catholic Mass and the hymn sung during the latter part of the liturgy when we unite our vioces with all fo the angels in their "neverending hymn of praise" (it is called the Sanctus if you are interested).

Even though your post probably wasn't meant to make me grin, it did:). Regarding what I hope for the afterlife - I believe (and that's all any of this is, you know) that my spirit would be greatly comforted by seeing my "gone" loved ones - pets (and humans) especially when one first enters that non-physical state. For when one sheds this flesh, and we are spirit, I believe there will be varying transitions, mental transitions. In fact, there are whole theories about earth-bound spirits b/c they either don't know they are dead or are determined to stay here. I personally think some of the earth-bound are scared, and rightfully so - such as Hitler, Stalin, etc. But back to what you said...
In the Bible there are certainly indications of a heirarchy in heaven, and I sure don't expect any special place. ;) Perhaps the animals I feel I will once again see will only be there to give me solace and guidance when I first cross over. I've never really thought much about "seeing" any of my humans
on the other side - so I'm not really thinking about the whole family reunion thing.:D Though that does sound nice.
Even though I'm not Catholic, I find many parts of Catholicism beautiful and inspiring.

[Ukr-Cdn]

Perhaps the animals I feel I will once again see will only be there to give me solace and guidance when I first cross over.

Even though I'm not Catholic, I find many parts of Catholicism beautiful and inspiring.

That is almost how Lewis imagines heaven first being like. The people we meet will be people from our life and they will be there to encourage us to stay and give us solace and guidance. The reason they need to convince us to stay is because when we first arive the land is inhospitable to us, but it is almost a final test to see if we really do want to meet God, or do we want to be confortable. Interesting book, interesting perspective.

It is good to hear that you find some elements of Catholicism inpiring. Too many people I think, especially in the US have a fear and hatred of Catholicism based on outdated propaganda spread when the US was first starting up. Doesn't mean we aren't the greatest or anything, but it doe skinda hurt when people say "Oh I'm not Catholic, I'm a Christian".

[Lynnbrown]

That is almost how Lewis imagines heaven first being like. The people we meet will be people from our life and they will be there to encourage us to stay and give us solace and guidance. The reason they need to convince us to stay is because when we first arive the land is inhospitable to us, but it is almost a final test to see if we really do want to meet God, or do we want to be confortable. Interesting book, interesting perspective.

It is good to hear that you find some elements of Catholicism inpiring. Too many people I think, especially in the US have a fear and hatred of Catholicism based on outdated propaganda spread when the US was first starting up. Doesn't mean we aren't the greatest or anything, but it doe skinda hurt when people say "Oh I'm not Catholic, I'm a Christian".

See that kind of stuff, saying that ^ is what gives (true) Christians a bad name. I certainly have never even thought that - and have asked several (so called) Christians (in real life) why they thought that - that Catholics weren't Christians. Needless to say, I received not even a half-ass answer.
In fact, I think some Protestants could take some lessons from the Catholics in reverence during worship and the importance of ritual - as far as in setting the right frame of mind.
You have definitely motivated me to go to the library to check out this CS Lewis. Even though Lewis's work is mostly considered fantasy - other stuff I read long ago seemed to have a ring of Truth to it. So I'll definitely be looking for this particular work.
Have a great day and God speed.:D

[Ukr-Cdn]

Well he has his novels, and then he has his apologist literature. I was refering to The Great Divorce which is written as a dream.