The badger was a night time visitor in her garden and Introduces herself.

“ I try not to show my face too often. It isn’t always wise or safe.
As you see I have a rather distinctive face. It’s the broad white stripe that gives it away!
I am told that it serves a purpose. It’s a sign of my knowledge and insight into matters not easily accessible to other animals on earth.

One of my special attributes is my strong jaws. This is very useful because it makes it easier to chew and also, when required, to snap and bite at those other animals who like to throw their weight around.
A much more useful thing is that my jaws help me to habit the mysteries of the Word’, which is a pretentious way of saying how I reveal the ‘magic of storytelling.’

When needed, I give away generously to people, a magical word which is the way I guide people who are looking for beauty, encouragement and a more open mind especially when they seek a differing direction and purpose in life which otherwise deludes them.
I use the word, story’ in a sense of helping others to listen to that inner voice whereby God speaks. I am part of that spirit-filled creation which leads people to embrace courage and independence and so cultivate a tenacity which shows the importance of holding on when running away and hiding would feel much safer.

Drawing from my own characteristics and a tendency to dig deeper into the soil of the earth, I am able to show other members of God’s creation how to embrace untapped potential and take that journey all of us must take if we are to become our true selves under God.

I have this story to tell from the heart of my being and it has inspired a number of important people to use me as a character in their writings.
The late eighteenth century  poet, John Clare,  wrote of me in a poem  entitled Badger. At a time when many humans were cruel to animals, he took my tenacious character and wove it into a poem which emphasizes endurance and resistance rather than then being a victim.
Beatrix Potter, in her Tale of Mr Tod, was less kind of me, speaking of my curiously, earthy voice in a dismissive way. She called me Tommy Brock
By then, I was being referred to as Broc which actually was my Celtic Name and really only meant ‘grey.’.
That nice Mr Graham, who wrote the delightful book, Wind in the Willows, called me a “wise and kind badger” though he did say that I could be bossy at times, by which he meant that I was forthright!

Things are not always what they seem and humans are not the be all and end all of creation. Each of us animals have insights, hopes and loves to offer as we share in shaping Creation. Each of us is made by God and we are Icons of His presence in the world. We are all filled with God’s Spirit and signs of the totality of His loving being. Increasingly we need to see that truth and treat Creation and the Created order in a new and more grateful way, all of us as part of God’s story of pure love.

Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come. (Bernadette O’Farrell)

[Mr G, a visiting Badger and The Revd.Lynn Hurry]
30th April 2026