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Pastoral Nuggets - October

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Life Lessons from Two Labs

About a year ago I had a “come to Aaron” meeting with myself. Of course, suffering from a multiple personality disorder as I do, a crowd of us showed-up for the meeting! Just kidding. I do not have a multiple personality disorder, but I am diabetic, and I had come to the realization that some things had to change in my life. I decided that walking would be the best way to accomplish this. Knowing that I would not be motivated to do this by myself, I decided that having a dog to walk would motivate me to walk. I made my intentions known and shortly thereafter, my son-in-law Jeff brought me an adult female Black Lab that someone wanted to get rid of. I named her Lucy and our adventure began.

I had not owned a dog since I was sixteen years old. Yes, the kids had some mutts as they were growing up, but I am talking about me owning a dog – me being the responsible party. Consequently, I had forgotten the frustrations and joys associated with this monumental decision.

Lucy and I began our ritual of walking every morning. Soon, we worked our way up to three miles a day. We enjoyed our time together. The more I walked, the healthier I got. I started to lose a little weight. Triglycerides and cholesterol levels normalized. My sugar levels normalized. Life was good. However, it was not long until I discovered that I was not the only man in Lucy’s life. It seems as though she had fallen in love with the neighbor’s dog. He is half Black Lab and half Great Dane. Well, they got married and a couple of months later Lucy gave me three granddogs - two girls and one boy. I gave one of the girl dogs to my daughter Heather, and at Marianne’s urging, kept the other female along with the male. I named them Blaze and Sweet Pea.

Now, while I still have Lucy, and I Love Lucy (Pun intended. Get it? Lucille Ball – I Love Lucy? – It wasn’t worth the effort was it?) Blaze and Sweet Pea are the focus of my Pastoral Nugget today. They are approximately eight months old now. They took after their daddy’s side of the family and they will probably be the size of small Shetland Ponies when they are grown. In fact, Preacher Mike Reeves could probably ride them like one of his horses. (Sorry ‘bout that, Mike!) However, as I have watched these two puppies grow, I have realized there are some lessons they model that I need to learn. In fact, we could all learn some lessons about life from our dogs.

The first thing I need to learn to model the way they do is: unconditional love. They love me for who I am – just as I am. These two dogs have never asked me to change anything about myself so they could love me more. But do you know what? Their unconditional love for me produces change in me.

The second thing I need to learn to model the way they do is: excitement. A ritual occurs every time Marianne and I return home. We have a rather long driveway. When we begin to pull into the yard these two begin to explode with excitement. They get so excited that we are home they cannot contain themselves. They start jumping on each other and running around in a hyperactive state of excitement until we get about halfway up the driveway. Then they break out running toward the car, still in their hyperactive state of excitement, and escort us the rest of the way home – jumping, wrestling, and running in circles. As we open the doors they stand there, tails wagging, utterly enthralled to see us. It makes no difference what hour of the day or night we get home. It makes no difference how tired we are. It makes no difference whether or not we have had a spat on the way home. All that matters to those two puppies is that the two people they love most in this world - are home.

The third thing I need to learn to model the way they do is: forgiveness. If I have to scold one of them, it is not long until they are right back with me enjoying whatever it is we are doing. No grudges. No retaliation. No getting even. They simply forgive and go on with “life in the moment.”

The fourth think I need to learn to model the way they do is: interest in another. They are, by nature, curious. If I walk out the door, they come running to see what I am doing. Whatever I am doing is more interesting to them than what they were doing.

The fifth thing I need to learn to model the way they do is: trust. They trust me completely. I have yet to see them biting their fingernails, in a full-blown swivet, fretting about whether or not I am going to meet their basic needs. They trust me completely.

As I pondered the actions of these two dogs, I began to realize there are some Spiritual lessons all of us can learn from these dogs. Think of what a better world this would be if we, each of us, learned to act a little more like dogs.

We would model unconditional love toward each other – loving each other just because we are – period.
We would model excitement at the prospect of being with each other
We would model forgiveness – no matter how grievous and hurtful the infraction against us – and we would learn to forget the past and “live in the moment.” Carpe Diem: Seize the day.
We would model interest in the lives of others, placing their interest above our own.
We would learn to model trust. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In these times of financial and political insecurity we would remember Who our Security is and in Whom we have placed our trust – Jesus!

I close this Nugget today with an observation & confession: I wish I was the husband my wife thinks I am, the father my children and grandchildren think I am, the son my father thinks I am, the brother my sister and brothers think I am, and the person others think I am. I am not there yet. I have not arrived. But with your prayers, your help, and the help of a few dogs in my life, God will get me there. You know, I just wish I were the man my dogs think I am.

Brother Aaron