Covenant Church

Born one of the litter its status was soon raised to a higher level. They were all pigs in the pen, but one pig was chosen to be treated special by the children in our family. For the first time we had a family pet. When Dad was not around we would let the pig out of the pen to follow us around the yard and farm.

While I was writing this article I could not remember the name of the pet pig. I called Mom. She is of the opinion that I must be bored if I have time to question the name of a pig that has been gone for 50 years. She suggested I make up a name and save time.

The pig's name was Oinky.

More than one of the children in our family rode Oinky, which he seemed to like. He had lots of personality. No doubt about it Oinky was more intelligent and better looking than other pigs.

We really enjoyed having Oinky for a pet. Having a pig for a pet was different and special, until Oinky became ham and sausage that no one wanted to eat.

Dad said: "No more pig pets."

Off in college and studying animals I learned that pigs are one of nature's smartest animals. Quite intelligent. Since I do not believe in people being evolved from animals it was interesting to hear professors try to link pigs as part of man's ancestry. The implication was that the intelligence of a pig is not too remote from that of human beings.

It is not my intent to argue that our pig Oinky was smarter than your pig, if you had one. However, allow me to share with you in more detail about Oinky. We would get Oinky out of the pen, wash him, put a ribbon on his head, and play with him.

But so help me no matter how much we talked to Oinky and tried to educate him to better manners, Oinky back in the pen went right to the mud hole to wallow in the yuck of the muck. There he would be with a ribbon still on his head looking as dirty as those other pigs. We never succeeded in getting Oinky to keep himself clean when with the pigs in the dirt.

That brings me to a point. In traveling to almost 30 countries and seeing many homes with dirt floors in deserts, jungles and mountains, I have witnessed a beautiful thing. Morning after morning every corner of a hut, tent, or living quarters is carefully swept. It is a meticulous procedure. Artistic. Thorough. Pride is taken.

Further, folks in the most dire of circumstances will find something of aesthetic value to decorate a wall, a ceiling, their clothes, their hair, etc. A piece of driftwood, a mounted flower, fish or bird. Hand drawing. Bark from a tree peeled, dried and made into a sign, a skirt, or painted.

You may rest assured that the difference between Oinky and people is so huge that it cannot be captured by the imagination. Oinky did not have a soul. Man is soul.

Because man is soul he ever seeks to find outward ways of expressing the eternal spirit within. If life does not provide opportunities for significance, then the spirit dies. Why do you comb your hair, brush you teeth, shine your shoes, shop for pretty things, decorate your home, buy a car of a particular color, wear different clothes, because you are not a pig. You were made by God in His image and for His glory. You know beauty because of the beauty of your Creator. You know hot to intrinsically value that which can not be defined simply as dirt.

You are special. You are soul. Christ died for you.

Much love,

Pastor Bare

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.