Gods, Dinosaurs and Some Very Happy Children

I want to start off today by saying thank you for all of you who share Rogue Priest on Twitter, Facebook, Stumbleupon, or even just emailing the link to a friend. The site wouldn’t be growing as quickly as it is without you, so thank you. And if you haven’t done this, it’s not too late—there are buttons below every post that you can use to share it!

Okay, on to dinosaurs.

Wait what? You heard me. A few years back I read an article by a woman who left plastic dinosaurs at local playgrounds. Anytime she saw dinos at rummage sales she snagged them, took them to a playground, and left them at the edge of the sand for anyone to use.

Why Am I Talking About Abandoned Dinosaurs?

Lately I’ve been on a minimalism jag, which is making my move—and my life—a lot easier. (If you’re sick of hearing about minimalism, I’m writing about something much freakier for Monday.)

As I got rid of my things, I found that most fell easily into one of three piles: sell, donate, or throw. But what about stuff that didn’t fit any of those?

I’m thinking of things from my personal shrine. I’m a polytheist, and it’s common for us to keep small statues of our deities or items that are sacred to them. In my case, that includes a variety of animal figurines, stones, pictures, and trinkets.

Traditionally a shrine was a very small shelf or nook in a home with a few figures and a place for offerings. Nowadays many polytheists suffer from sprawl—their shrines become a massive collection of sentimental knick knacks. You know how I feel about that. I decided to get back to basics.

But what can I do with this stuff?

It doesn’t travel easily. Some of it might be worth a little money on eBay, but I’m only selling big-ticket items. It feels wrong to throw them out, and not worth a long car ride to take them to charity.

Time for a Field Trip

That was when I remembered the dinosaurs. I rounded up a few choice pieces and headed out to the local playground.

The items I abandoned today include a stone tiger, owl, and dragon; and a metal deity statue. Originally I intended to leave them all in places where kids would be most likely to find them, but I couldn’t resist putting the owl on the bench at a retirement home. Someone will surely cherish it.

Deciding that the metal deity statue was too pointy for children, I set it in someone’s shrine-like garden for them to do with as they wish. The dragon took its post beneath the slide at the playground, and the tiger was left to guard a solitary tree off to one side. You have to leave something for the loner kids to find. 

My Personal Giveaway

I realize it’s a minor thing, but it really made my day to pass these items on so organically. Whoever finds them can use them however they see fit, probably never knowing they once sat on an altar. 

As a kid, If I had stumbled upon a tiger made of luminescent green stone I would have been thrilled (and mystified). It’s like finding a hidden treasure. Hopefully they will bring that same joy to somebody else.

Have you ever left something for a stranger to find? Did you get any weird looks doing it? Let me know, but first please tweet or Facebook share this post. Doing so is the only way to get into heaven, so you know it’s important.