For the last seven plus years, we have worked with a beautiful, all white dove we named Salt.  Having spent his first two years on a game bird farm rather than a pet shop, he was a bit wilder than other doves when we first started working with him, but he settled down nicely.  Today, when I went to feed and water him, I found him dead.  While I never had the sentimental attachment to him that I have to our rabbit, Jeremiah, I am nonetheless sad at his passing.  foget the fact that he lived a couple years beyond a dove's life expectency; Never mind that I had to ransom him back from Canadian customs a couple summers ago (a story I'll blog about another time).  I am surprised by my feelings of loss at his passing.

I do not believe that animals go to heaven, but I have thought about Salt's life.  Out of the millions or even billions of birds in the world, God arranged for this one little dove to be our partner in ministry.  While virtually all other birds spend their lives trying simply to stay safe and find a mate, Salt did more in communicating the Gospel than most Christian humans I know.  How many of us want to merely stay safe and find companionship, when we could (should?) be making other things: evangelizing, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, standing up to injustice... our top priorities.  We can learn a lot from my little bird. 

Salt, you fulfilled your purpose in God's creation effectively and completely.  Good job.