WHEN I MOVED to Washington, D.C., the second thing I noticed was the rats. (The first was that D.C. drivers are more aggressive than those from Indiana. I’ve since learned to use my horn liberally.)
I’m not proud of my initial response to these furry children of God. I shrieked. I complained. I was frightened to go outside at night, because with every step I took, I heard them scurrying. I could practically feel their long, pink tails tickling my ankles. I filled their burrows with dirt and rocks, covering them with bricks. I was proud of my resourcefulness, until I found the bricks shoved aside and the burrows reestablished. These rats were strong and resilient. Touché, rats. Touché.
As winter approached, the rat population shrank. Small communities could still be found dwelling near dumpsters, and I realized that like me, the rats were just trying to survive. I began learning about the plight of the urban rat and became convicted that as Christians committed to social justice, we must open our hearts to Rattus norvegicus.
You might roll your eyes and ask, “Is a Christian response to rats really necessary?” I assure you, it is. We don’t bat an eye at squirrels (also rodents), yet we are universally disgusted by rats, which are, in case you’ve forgotten, also part of God’s creation. We are so possessive over our trash that we would rather kill the rats than let them enjoy our chicken bones. We must do better.
That’s why I’m launching NIBBLE (Nonviolent Interventions By Bible-Loving Evangelicals), a nonprofit focused on improving human-rat relations in accordance with the gospel. Here’s a preview of our five-step plan for building Beloved Community with neighborhood rats:
Step 1: Deconstruct Anti-Rat Beliefs
Before we can make amends for violence against rats, we must understand that rats are more than just alleyway pests. The 2007 animated film Ratatouille is a good place to start your reeducation.
Step 2: Language Studies
Rats communicate with each other using both sounds and body language. Using Google, you can start practicing simple words and phrases.
Step 3: Trust Exercises
Popular imagination casts rats as indiscriminate eaters, but, as demonstrated by Ratatouille, rats love high quality cuisine. Their favorite noshes include fatty foods like nuts and avocados, along with bananas and root vegetables. Create platters of bite-sized snacks to put outside, regularly refilling them. Sit very still and they might even eat your offerings in your presence!
Step 4: Christian Housing
With a few spare pieces of plywood you can make a lean-to shelter for the rats in your life. If you are handy with a hammer, build an entire home. Inscribe Bible verses on the walls and install a speaker that plays worship music 24/7, so the rats are immersed in the good news. Protected from the harsh elements, they’ll have time to study the Bible.
Step 5: Worship Together
Once you have built trust with your neighborhood rats, invite them to church. One great thing about rats is that they are small enough to join your congregation without taking up much space. Future studies will probably find that when rats and humans worship together, they respect each other’s boundaries more. It’s a win-win!
If you’ve found this sample of NIBBLE’s work helpful, please consider making a charitable donation. Checks can be addressed to me, Greta Lapp Klassen, and mailed to the Sojourners office. I will, of course, use them for nonprofit, rat-loving purposes. (Editor’s fine print: NIBBLE is not yet an IRS-certified nonprofit. Your donations may directly support Greta’s cheese habit.)
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