Rosie the Donkey

Everything I learned about donkeys I learned from Rosie. Rosie lives on my brother’s farm and she takes care of the sheep and the goats and maybe even the chickens from time to time. In winter she has a very thick coat which is good because some nights are very cold. Donkeys, like horses, sleep standing up. That is hard for us humans to understand, but their bodies are used to and in fact require it. You might see a horse lying down in a meadow on a warm day, but not my Rosie.

Rosie is gentle and loves vegetables. She is vegan. When my mother visited the farm she always brought Rosie lots of vegetables and fruits including lettuce and carrots. Rosie’s favorite was banana peels. She would see her silver car coming and the loud braying would begin until she was at her fence feeding her the treats. Rosie is smart.

On Palm Sunday Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey–a burro. He did not ride triumphantly on a large horse which would have been in keeping with the Roman Emperors. Why? We believe and teach this was a symbol of humility and peace. Christ’s message was not one of war and conquest, but one of peaceful community and love. What has happened to this message? Christianity often seems to be on the side of war and money. There are churches and communities which enact this message of giving and sharing to the poor, but that too has become a self congratulatory badge.

As Christians celebrated Palm Sunday remotely and in person with restrictions, Indians were beginning their celebration of Holi. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love. It is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season.

It is time for all of us to repair broken relationships and to be reconciled one with another. Rosie is getting ready for spring and by May her thick coat will be shed. Spring is coming and it is time for all of us to take off the cloaks of winter & isolation and put on laugher and play. Rosie protects her animals by stomping her powerful feet and fiercely braying louder than you can imagine. Perhaps we too can bray when someone inadvertently crosses our delicate path, but with a soul of reconciliation and the spirit of a dove.