It’s for the Dogs.. – whiteearthepiscopal.org

It's for the Dogs....

Crazy Holy Love…

I got home fairly early today, in the company of 3 ladies who were kind enough to pick me up at the airport…true, my “tail” was dragging a bit, but I was elated to have been a witness to a sacrament…

The wind was up a bit, the Holy Spirit was out dancing already… She seemed interested in keeping the temperature in a moderate place, Still, her movement was unmistakable to my sense of the sacred.

4 legged friends greeted me at the door, and I quickly promised to lay down a snack for them…You’ll have to tell us about it later. The largest canine seemed to say…”I will, I will…” was all I could think of. I sat for a moment on the steps to greet them properly and then, after that snack I promised…I went in. “Later boys” I said as I opened the door, moving my luggage through and into the kitchen to be able to break it all down later…it fits nicely in a corner till I am ready. I was not.

I was aware that I grabbed a book and thought I would just sit a little while and relax.

I glanced up at a picture that also always “greets” me…a Saint with the fire of God in one hand and an undeniable and undenied symbol of his culture in the other. “Hey” he said, “How did it go? “Great, ” I replied without thinking about the impossible-ness of what I was doing …really beautiful ceremony. It was great being with family.” “Wait a minute, you aren’t really talking…are you?” “No, he said, No, No, You know you are not really hearing me, I’m a piece of colored cardboard.” But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a civil conversation?” “So, what do you think, were they ready?”

“Not a chance, I said. brushing all logic aside, Were you?

“Of course not” he replied, that’s part of the crazy holy thing about marriage, we only think we are ready for love, but you don’t fall in love, It isn’t some pit you drop into. Smart man, I thought, ” Still, with grace, willingness to work at it, and time, we learned to sacrifice, lead with and for one another, pray together, cry, share pain, be angry, fight fair, forgive tenderly, be silly, work though the tough stuff. No, you don’t fall… you become, become more like the love of God.”

” I like that, I said, “Become”

“Ok, Well, I’m tired” the Saint didn’t say…”we should both get a nap, then you can post.” Man, I thought he starts a conversation then just cuts it off. Then I heard in place much deeper than than my auditory system, “But, you already know what you are going say, It’s bookmarked in your hands.”

I looked down, and sure enough my first finger held a place in the New Testament.”

“Your right, Mr. Saint… you won again, without uttering a single word.” “Glad we didn’t have this little talk” seemed to be the picture’s reply accompanied by a long slow yawn, then, then nothing”

Crazy, Holy Love, the bookmarked place…

I Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The wiggle dance at the front steps.

Yesterday was going to be hot. Hot! And, because I was also going to be traveling, I decided to get my visiting friends fresh water and food early in the morning… I put out some cool water and food and was preparing to give a call out, when looking down there were two dogs wagging and smiling…well I think they were smiling anyway. So I said hi the to caramel colored “Buddy” and his little ‘buddy whom I call “Baby”. Then Buddy, suddenly dropped to the concrete and rolled on his back and started to wiggle…I assume he was targeting an itch… he kept it up for a while and then “Baby” watching her older freind…turned around looked at me…looking at Buddy and the did the same thing…there they were wiggling and this way and that. Did Baby itch too?..or was this their sense of humor? Humor or not, Itch or not….I started to laugh. “Ok guys…how about the chow and a back scratch…” They sure know the word chow…so both stopped and as usual, Buddy let

Baby eat her fill first… I scratched her back then his, Finishing the Puppy Chow…they sat for a while with me on the steps. I could feel the heat of the day mounting. They did too. They left with fun. sweet back glances as they headed up the street, and giggled as I showered and dressed to leave for my day’s travel.

The wiggle dance is still playing in my mind. Who says dogs don’t have a sense of humor?…Not me.

Cold weather and a bunk-over pup.

So…it is cold now, and a few times a week a little 3 or 4 some…consisting of White Socks, with his bigger adopted brother, Buddy… and maybe a pal or two…come by for treats and some company. We still sit if that is not too cold on the steps and “visit” For canine friends they are all pretty polite and affectionate in their own way.

Turns out, one of them doesn’t like the cold much. So, “it” started this way…White Socks wanted to come in and warm up one day, I mean he scooted in rapidly when I opened the door…He had never done that before, but within about 5 min. or so he was back out with his big brother and on their way to the days adventures.

Well, ok, I thought as I scratched my head. This happened maybe 5 more times…always the same…in for a few min. then back out.

One Night just after dark, the two brothers both showed up at the door…??? “Hi boys what’s up fellas” I said, as I slipped into an old coat and reached for the puppy chow, they weren’t much interested in it. The meaning of the visit became clear as the smaller one, White Socks slipped in as soon as I got the door open and Buddy followed him. I just stood there wondering what was going on… and Buddy took the lead…he checked out the whole lower level…and then came back to the door… I guess It met for his approval to have his brother stay the night. White Socks and Buddy touched noses with a little slurp initiated by the smaller one, and Buddy wanted out. Oh I got a little “kiss” too…from Buddy as he went back out to eat a little more. and disappeared into the frosty night.

White Socks stayed all night being very polite and not going where he was not invited. I put down an old, just washed blanket, he knew my intent and rested on it he seemed happy to just close his eyes in warm place, That is until 4 or was it 3 am? Still, he was lonely for his brother, so out he went. Both showed up in the morning for little chow and some conversation. A process he has repeated now a few times.

After getting permission from their owner family, I felt better to be able to offer a little warm place for the one who just doesn’t like our cold nights. He doesn’t come by every night…but when he does he has a spot…all ok’d by his human and canine families.

4/20/24

A story about good shepherds.

Some folks call this Sunday, “Good Shepherd Sunday”

We read about Jesus as the sacrificial, and ultimate Good Shepherd, and so he is.

I have a story that I am going to use to open my homily tomorrow about Shepherds, good ones…well a good one of whom I have personal knowledge.

Buddy: a good shepherd.

A while back I noticed that two of the canine friends that come to visit began to lead a couple of little pups to my door also, and because I serve puppy chow as a snack…it was all good!! The two shepherds were none other than Buddy the big golden /brown dog and White Socks…his younger adopted brother.

Buddy was clearly the head Shep. and White Socks, who was months earlier led also by head Shep…big brother to the snack and some social visiting was catching on, that is when there is no other distractions…squirrels, a leaf, a pile of snow, and of course, everybody’s fave. cars and bikes. Ok.

But Buddy, when the “babies” were being led, stuck with them. Now, head Shep. Buddy had once been hurt by some thugs…dogs who are that! He was bitten several times. Some friends got him the help he needed, and he healed up well.

I think it was a Saturday, still in winter, Buddy and little bro showed up with 3 pups… I was already on my laptop for work in my upstairs office, but I went down stairs to greet the little troop, and I laid out a line of food. I went back up to continue work…Suddenly I heard White Socks explode with some very angry barking…I paused to go see what the noise was all about….

I couldn’t see two of the pups, but i did clearly see Buddy knock one of the pups down and put his big head over him. What are you doing, you’re going to hurt the little thing, I thought?? I suddenly turned my head and saw two huge dogs, sizing up much smaller White Socks…who was pretty impressive, but would be no match for those two. I started yelling and ran in to get my stick to bang on the ground….or use it if I had to.

Thank the Creator the thugs ran off…I kept yelling and threatening with my big broom handle stick until they were out of sight…White Socks kept barking and followed them for a bit, but came back.

I could hear the other babies …who had made it to under the church steps to hide. Then I looked down and there was Buddy shaking, and still hiding the 3rd baby. He was pretty close to his barking brother, but if they, the thugs, had charged him…I believe he would have probably died protecting the little one. Finally, I saw…what being a good shepherd looks like. It was a matter of life or death.

“Its Ok Buddy” I said, “good job!”….White Socks licked his face, it is their greeting, and Buddy let the the little guy out, who then went back to munching, and in a moment the other two came to join him. I stroked Buddy and felt the scars of his months old injuries. Good Boy, Such a Good Shepherd.

So, this is what Jesus in part, is telling me…he did die for his little ones, all of us. He is our Good Shepherd… Always and Forever. ja+

Sunday 4/28

Home for about 45 min.

Gave out Biscuit bones to some very soggy friends.

One insisted on licking the water off of my face only to have it reappear and need more mopping. They listened intently to the wonderful news that I am writing about now that today one of our churches had 7 baptisms.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus and all of us got 7 more little brothers and sisters. With more on the way for another Sunday.

My wet fur pals were excited to hear it…I mean I got some pretty enthusiastic wiggles if you ask me.

That was good for a couple more biscuits so they were part of the celebration, and I came in soaked, but having a newly mopped face.

My heart is so glad for our new relatives today and I am thinking heaven must be celebrating…biscuits in the rain anyone?

ja+