Our Dog Red
A Small Token of Remembrance
- Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2019
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Publisher's Description
Everyone who has lost a beloved pet knows the deep grief and heartbreak a death can cause, often raising questions about the meaning of such a loss, whether there is an afterlife for pets, and sometimes why God would take such a dear member of the family so soon. This book is the story of a father and son, Ed and Daniel, whose pet, Red, died on Good Friday in the week Christians call "Holy." It shows how Red's death drew them even closer while also leading each of them into new awarenesses. The timing of that death also raised serious questions for Ed, a pastoral theologian, which he had not faced before: do animals have souls? What sort of God is it that we Christians believe in? What was one to learn from the synchronicity of Red dying on Good Friday? As a result of his grief and the questions it raised, Ed found himself being led to teaching new courses in ethics, art, and spirituality concerned with animals, and a new field specifically called "animal theology." This memoir is written for those concerned with the death of their beloved pets. It discusses practices and rituals helpful in dealing with grief which can contribute to healing.
Endorsements (5)
“A beautiful book. No one could fail to be moved by this intensely personal, deeply compassionate work, full of pathos and joy.”
“Red is a story many of us who love dogs will deeply relate to and find inspiration in. Ed Sellner explores the beautiful geography of our intimacy with companion animals and the graces they offer to us with loving attention. Read this book to fall even more in love with the gifts animals can bring to our lives.”
“Dog lovers! Animal lovers! We all see and experience the Divine spark in the animals that share our lives. . . . Ed Sellner captures the profound lifelong effect on his heart and soul that his dog, Red, has left. He shares a true Celtic Christian experience of the Divine, one which can only be known through a sensitive relationship with animals.”
“With clarity and insight Ed Sellner weaves threads of theological and personal reflections for those facing the loss and grief of a beloved pet. . . . The reverence and awe offered through the stories and wisdom of this book provide a notable source of healing and spiritual guidance.”
“This is a beautiful book—and a book that teaches us why beauty is holy. Grounded in both the simple beauty of the life of a good dog and the overflowing riches of the Christian tradition, Our Dog Red illuminates the true and central place of animals in our pursuit of a deeper understanding of the mysteries of suffering and love in God’s beautiful, beloved creation.”
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