The Donkey Speaks:
Palm Sunday
You might think donkeys can’t talk, but if you’ve ever read the story of “Balaam and his ass”—that would be Numbers chapter 22—you know we donkeys have a lot to say.
When donkeys get together we tend to talk about you all, mostly how you think you’re the only ones on earth, how you don’t know we’re listening, how you don’t realize we see. We’re pretty much the outcasts of the animal kingdom; none of you wants to be a dumb ass. But like a lot of rejects, we donkeys enjoy a higher form of wisdom.
You wouldn’t know much about this paradoxical wisdom because you all are terrified of rejection, or most of you are, anyway. But creatures who are kicked to the curb learn fairly early what most of you only learn at the end of your life—that all the pomp is pompous, that all the gold is at the bottom. In other words, we donkeys are proudly asinine. You turned that word into belittlement, but it just means donkey-like, and you might try it sometime when the war-horse thing is killing you.
Which is all to say, I could see what was happening that day. I think that’s one reason the rabbi chose me. Not just because I symbolize humility and peace, but because I could see. I had the view from the bottom. I knew you all were taken in by the pomp, treating him—and me—like royals, when what he and I devised was a farce. I could see where this parade was careening. He could too, of course, and maybe he just needed me to keep him honest, just in case it went to his head. Oh, yeah—he and I were talking the whole time.
When I got home that night I got together with a few friends, and of course they’d heard all about it. I told them about the rabbi and the best honor of my life, to ride with that man. They asked me if I thought you all might actually follow him and end up a little more truly asinine, and I said, Give it a week.
For this piece, I was inspired by G.K. Chesteron’s poem, “The Donkey.”
COMPANIONS ON THE WAY
Introduction
Stories of Turning
Week One
Stories of Wild Places
Week Two
Stories of Dogged Faith
Week Three
Stories of Mercy & Forgiveness
Week Four
Stories of Simplicity & Joy
Week Five
Stories of Prayer & Surrender
Week Six
Stories of Transforming Love
As far as animals at the lowest of the low, outcasts of the animal kingdom, I thought of dung beetles. Some of us may express pompous disdain for insects that eat poop. Ugh! Dung beetles, however, are sacred. The scarab, modeled after the dung beetle, was closely connected with the Sun God Khepri. It is a symbol of “ rebirth, regeneration, and protection in the afterlife”. What would a dung beetle say? “ All the gold is at the bottom!”
Janice, that is really wonderful, and a great spin-off from what I was finding in the donkey. Your last line slays me!
Happy Palm Sunday, David! What a great take on the old familiar Gospel. I’d never read that Chesterton piece before. Your gloss on it is superb.
Today at St. Philip’s, I’m leading a discussion on Mary Oliver’s “The Poet Thinks about the Donkey.” (We’ve done Oliver every Sunday in Lent.) So I’ve printed the Chesterton and will hand it out today. Then we’ll stand back and listen to some donkey dialogue.
Peace, David. And thanks again for these daily gifts.
You’re going full, beautiful asinine this Palm Sunday!