I only just noticed it on Sunday.
On these walks my dogs stay pretty close. Archie, the one in the picture is fast, but he likes me and comes sprinting at the slightest whisper of a whistle.
Scout, my other dog, is also fast, and does not like being out in the cold. She’s always doing her best to go home. Any pause or shift in direction is interpreted generously as we’re going back home now to sit by the woodstove.
I talk to my dogs on these walks and I talk to myself and I talk to whoever’s listening, sometimes in silly voices. I take that time alone in this place I’ve chosen to live in to pray and to give thanks and to think about things, this blog, for example.
I’m still uncomfortable writing or really speaking openly about my developing faith; I think that has to do with the fact that our society seems to look down on religious people while simultaneously seeing less traditional beliefs as in vogue, at least in my circles.
I’ve certainly known some less than thoughtful religious people in my life, I still do, and I’ve dunked on them harder than most. But some of my favorite people in the world also have faith, and are not stupid, hardly at all.
I’m still uncomfortable writing or really speaking openly about my developing faith; I think that has to do with the fact that our society seems to look down on religious people while simultaneously seeing less traditional beliefs as in vogue, at least in my circles.
I’ve certainly known some less than thoughtful religious people in my life, I still do, and I’ve dunked on them harder than most. But some of my favorite people in the world also have faith, and are not stupid, hardly at all.
A few months ago I went on a long drive and I tooled across the frequencies to a spiritual radio drama of some obscure sort. In it, a little girl was talking to someone in the circus about Jesus and she described him as the good shepard.
She said that when we stray from him we’re lost lambs and when we return, he’s not angry, he’s awash with relief and joy that we came back and we weren’t eaten by something larger than us,
I weigh about 200 lbs.
I’ve had dogs run off and I’ve had dogs come back and I understand that feeling of relief. I’ve also gotten mad at dogs for not listening well enough, and that makes me think, too.
Dogs don’t know very well what’s good for them and what isn’t.
That’s what I thought about on my walk this morning anyways.
Bozo.
She said that when we stray from him we’re lost lambs and when we return, he’s not angry, he’s awash with relief and joy that we came back and we weren’t eaten by something larger than us,
I weigh about 200 lbs.
I’ve had dogs run off and I’ve had dogs come back and I understand that feeling of relief. I’ve also gotten mad at dogs for not listening well enough, and that makes me think, too.
Dogs don’t know very well what’s good for them and what isn’t.
That’s what I thought about on my walk this morning anyways.
Bozo.
