Hang Time

Ever wonder what it would be like to have a friend that was Always ready to do whatever you had in mind. Go out and play, take a nap, watch TV or simply just hang out together? That is an exact description of my companion Hunter (the dog).
If I have work to do he is always willing to sit in the office quietly moving with me any time I go up stairs or out to the stock room. When I need a break, he is always ready and willing to take a short walk outside to the field to retrieve as many bumpers or tennis balls I can throw. Go for a walk, take a nap, his response is always “I’m With You”.
In the house, food is always down so he eats only when there is nothing going on. When it is time for me to sleep, he is always at my side, ready to change activities at a moment’s notice.
How much more so is Gods desire to be with us. He is always with us whatever we are doing. Happy to join us if invited and even there when we do not. He sings with us when we rejoice, he sits by our side when we work, penitently waiting for a time when we return our attention to him. When we sleep, he is with us, ready to start the day when ever we awake.
Dog is God’s physical reminder that he is always with us, whatever we do, where ever we go. We are not alone, We live in God’s world and he just wants to Hang Out.

Why Dogs?

Throughout my life, God has never appeared to me in thunderous clouds or burning bushes. He must reserve those for special occasions like Moses and King Arthur in his search for the Holy Grail. Yet he presents himself to me every day of my life, if I am only willing to look and listen.
For me, one of the most remarkable ways God demonstrates his love for us is through the simplest of creatures, my dog. If you have ever lived with this noble creature you can easily see Gods love and grace (on a smaller, canine scale).

There is an old joke: If you want to see who truly loves you, Lock your dog and your spouse in the trunk of your car overnight and see which one is happy to see you the next morning.

God’s willingness to take us back, forgive us and care for us even when we do not deserve it in a small way is echoed in the love and devotion of a good dog. Few if any other creatures on this small planet have become such an integral part of our everyday life, and maybe, just maybe, God has put them in our lives for a very good reason.

A great short essay on life simple lessons starts “Everything I ever need to know, I learned in Kindergarten”. For me, many of my best lessons I learned from my dog. If I am only willing and able to pay attention, he has a lot to teach me.

And so my Blog begins, examining how we can learn from Gods other gift to Man, Our Dogs.