KOOTENAY TRADITION — Top: The Rev. Yme Woensdregt, pets and people of Christ Church, Cranbrook (photo Sally Passey). Centre left: The Rev. Laura Hermakin gave Melosa a blessing and a gentle pat during the blessing of the animals at St. John's Anglican Church in Salmon Arm (photo Sally Scales). Centre right: The Rev Marcella Mugford, pets and people of St. Michael & All Angels, Balfour (photo Jonn Lavinnder). Bottom: The Rev. Eizabeth Ruder-Celiz, pets and people of St. David's Castlegar (photo lesley killough).

Born in 1181 or 1182, Francesco di Bernardone had a lasting influence on the world in his short life. We know him best as St. Francis of Assisi.

Born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Francesco had no interest in being part of the family business. It is said that one day, while he was still young, in the church of San Damiano, he seemed to hear the voice of Christ saying, "Francis, repair my falling house." Taking the words literally, he sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged. In a public confrontation, his father disinherited and disowned him. Francis, in turn, renounced his father's wealth. One account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father's feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself "Wedded to Lady Poverty," renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor.

Francis took literally the words in Matthew's gospel: Preach as you go, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand. You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff." (Matthew 10: 7-10)

As a result, he and his companions took a vow of poverty. They freed themselves from the hold of wealth. Their task was to proclaim the good news, "using words if necessary," and declaring in word and action the love of God in Christ.

At the heart of his mission was a profound respect for all life. He experienced all of God's creation as sacred. In his day, if one wanted to seek God, the traditional religious way was to turn inward. Monks tried to transcend this world, spending their lives in contemplating God, seeking to know God fully.

Francis chose a different route. Instead of turning inwards, he turned outwards. The world was shot through with God's glory. Francis discovered God's presence and love everywhere he looked. God was to be found in the midst of this world, in the everyday moments of life, in the midst of a bountiful and wonderfully varied creation. Rather than fleeing the world to find God, God is to be found right here, in the physical, material world.

The paradox of Francis' life is that although he gave up material possessions, he valued the material things of the earth more completely. He treasured people who worked with their hands — farmers, craftspeople, artists, bakers — and he valued the fruit of their hands. He esteemed material things not as having intrinsic worth in and of themselves, but because they displayed the immense variety and wonder of God's creative imagination.

Francis had a remarkable belief in the universal ability of all creatures to praise God. His famous Canticle of the Creatures includes the words, "All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Sun... Sister Moon and Stars... Brothers Wind and Air... Sister Water... Brother Fire... Sister Earth... Sister Death. All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made. Happy those who endure in peace."

Many of the stories that surround St. Francis deal with his love for animals. He is quoted as saying "If anyone would exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have someone who will deal likewise with fellow human beings." He knew deeply that all of life is interconnected, and that if we destroy any part of the environment, it also diminishes us.

Most of the world's religions have a sense that respecting animal life is part of the natural makeup of human beings and, indeed, part of the moral sensitivity that makes us human. With our increasing attention to the environment, eco-justice, and to ecological issues, Francis' love for creation takes on a whole new meaning and power for us. If we are all creatures of God, then nothing is expendable.

He died on October 4, 1226. The church celebrates saints' days on the day of their death; since that was the day they were born into glory.

The "Blessing of the Animals" service has become an annual Kootenay tradition in many of our churches. In the spirit of Francis, who called the animals his brothers and sisters, we celebrate the goodness of God, who calls us to live in peace with all creatures, and indeed with the whole of creation, treasuring it as God's wonderful gift to us.

Wandering Window

By Peter Davison

On Sunday, September 27, a new window was dedicated at All Saints, Vernon. Designed as a companion to the "wandering window" installed a year ago, it was given by Beryl Osmond in memory of her friend, Claire Cooper, and features singers and the symbol of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music.

The window is the work of Chris Goodman, whose father, Russell Goodman, had created the "wandering window" some forty years ago. Russell Goodman received the Order of Canada for his work on the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, and father and son have worked together on many projects over the years. Their work is characterized by the use of rare glass purchased from Europe and the United States, and a special luminescence derived from the rich colours the various types of glass convey.

This writer had the pleasure of working with Russell Goodman in 1972, so it was a pleasure to meet the whole Goodman family when they came for the dedication of this new window. Their skill and artistry grace many churches around the world, and show how the power of great art can still inspire and enrich faith. At a time when the arts are under fire from increased costs and government cuts, we are reminded of the importance of the arts, not only to the life of faith, but to all of life.

On a concluding note, Jan and Ken Waldon, who had donated the "wandering window" to All Saints, have more than sharing the artistry of the Goodmans in common. Jan had been a classmate of Claire Cooper — so the occasion was a poignant one for both Beryl and the Waldons.