I’ve had so much feedback from my Rambling about Sammy I want to give you and update. Actually, let me start by saying thank you to all of you who shared kind words, and also shared such wonderful stories of your own beloved animals that have died over the years. Between those stories and the wonderful St. Francis blessing service two weeks ago, I have gotten a really strong sense of just how important our animals are. So thank you, Christ Church, for your ministry to me, and for sharing your own journeys.
This past week was a mixed week for us in terms of dogs. Our other dog, the one who went blind suddenly last year, passed out on Sunday. After a trip to the pet ER we learned that she is in active heart failure, and has now become the most medicated member of our family! She will be ok for a year or two until the meds won’t work well enough. It was not good news, but not totally unexpected. Our Vet found a heart murmur years ago and told us that in time it would likely develop into congestive heart failure. While we were initially scared when she passed out, a prognosis with a couple of good years left is a manageable diagnosis.
The good news, and somewhat unexpected good news at that, is that we have welcomed a new dog, Sadie, into our family. We weren’t sure we wanted another dog at this stage, but Sasha, who has never been an only dog, was experiencing some separation anxiety since Sammy died. We didn’t want her to become so stressed that it affected her health so we went out to the Humane League to see about a dog that was listed without a photo – a German Shepherd mix – the breed we want to add to the family at some point. The Shepherd mix wasn’t for us, but while we were there we found Sadie, who looks and acts a great deal like Sammy did when we found her at the Human League in Pennsylvania. Similar ages at the time of their adoption, both lab mixes, both sleek and black, both sweet as can be; it wasn’t much of a decision, really. She came home with us for a sleepover on Friday, and we signed the adoption paperwork on Saturday. She is a wonderful and affectionate dog, and we’re so very happy to have her with us.
And that’s my jumping off point for my rambling this week. While Sadie is
housetrained, and halfway knows how to sit, it’s clear she hasn’t done a lot of leash walking. She likes to sit or lie down instead of going where we’re going, although she’s learning quickly. I refreshed my dog-training memory a bit by reading up on keeping the dog’s nose in control, as they tend to follow their noses. I was remembering how to lead a dog without pulling it, and how to keep them focused on going in the right direction, when I sat down to prepare for tonight’s Living Compass class. The new book, written by the Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner, describes the use of a compass to find out where we are and where we want to go. As I read it, it made me realize that in some ways I’m not much different than Sadie.
Scott writes about how the point on a regular compass points north, and notes that it doesn’t really point north so much as it is pulled north by the gravitational pull from the North Pole. His reflection is that we are much the same way. We may think we are pointing ourselves in particular directions – and we do; however, it is God who is pulling at us to go in a particular direction. God is pulling us to be healthy and whole, for example. When we remember to do it, we are able to sense the pulling of the Holy Spirit and then head in that direction. I love that image, especially when compared with my new regiment of dog training. How often do I want to follow my own nose and go in the direction I point myself? How many times do I know where God is leading me, but decide to sit down in stubbornness or lie down in laziness instead of following?
I don’t know that I have ever thought about it as training, per se, but I realize that the work that we do to keep our spiritual life on track, to discern where God is calling us, and to try and follow as faithfully as we can is a form of training. It’s not something we get right away, and it’s not always easy to figure out without some effort. Our ‘Guide’ doesn’t put us on a leash, but instead provides a ‘human whisperer’ of sorts in the Holy Spirit. When we learn to recognize the movement of the Spirit in our lives, and follow where we are being pulled, amazing things happen. I’m going to keep working with Sadie until she gets it, and I’m going to keep working on my own Living Compass in the hopes that one day I get that too.
Tom+
PS - There’s still time to join me if you want to work on your Living Compass (tonight at 5:30 in the Parish House!).
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.