My favorite book is Frannie and Zooey by J.D. Salinger, the story of a brother and sister. The sister, Frannie, come to her brother to complain about the Bible. She likes it when Jesus says, Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. She agrees that every living thing is precious. However, she tells her brother she is going to bccome a Buddhist because Jesus adds: “You are worth more than many sparrows.” How can precious baby chicks be less valuable than the horrible people she encounters in life? Her brother explains that for Jesus every human being is made in the image and likeness of God and has an eternal destiny. Certainly we have an obligation to care for all of creation, but, first and foremost, we must ensure that every individual is given the worth and value that they possess as children of God.
