A Dog's Life

Zoe, our English Spaniel, is celebrating two years being a part of our little family. Zoe came to us June 15, 2014, the day the Spurs won the NBA Finals. It was a great night celebrating Zoe’s arrival and our Spurs winning the NBA championship.  Fast forward two years, Zoe and I are sitting on the couch watching the NBA Finals. Zoe doesn’t particularly care about the game. She’s sleeping. In fact, Zoe is oblivious to basketball, although she watches me go way too crazy when my Spurs are playing. 

Zoe enjoys the simple things in life. Just now, the nightly gecko made its usual walk across our upstairs window. Now that’s exciting! Zoe loves performing tricks for Ben when he comes home for work….all for a few treats. She is so excited when I put my running shoes on, knowing a walk might be in her future. When we start piling the kayaks on the truck, she is in rare form knowing that the Guadelupe River is awaiting her.

Zoe doesn’t know a thing about what happened in Orlando.Or Sandy Hook.Or New York Or San Bernardino. Or Boston. Zoe doesn’t understand that all people don’t love other people. Loving is so easy for her! She is clueless to the nightly news. She is unaware of the daily stressors of life. She simply trusts her human parents that they will take care of her. 

We can learn so much from a dog’s life. With the Orlando shootings not that long ago,our hearts still are troubled, horrified and maybe a bit fearful. This crazy stuff just doesn’t stop. What’s going to happen next? How can we be safe? How do we protect our children? Just like Zoe trusts her masters, we would be wise to trust our God.

Consider Thom Rutledge, (from Embracing Fear and Finding the Courage to Live your Life) “Fear takes many forms- dead, worry, panic, anxiety, self-consciousness, superstition, and negativity- and manifests self in many ways- avoidance, procrastination, judgment, control, agitation, and perfectionism, to name just a few. Fear is our constant companion. It haunts us day and night and prevents us from living to our potential. Whether we are afraid of the dark or of being alone, failure or commitment, public speaking or flying, fear dominates our lives, affecting nearly every decision we make.”  As I grow older, I see how fear can become more and more a part of my life. But, I have to make a choice to say “no” to fear.  As I grow in my faith, God becomes bigger and my worries become smaller. What about you? How has fear crept into your life? How have your fears robbed you from living freely? How has fear paralyzed you in decision making? You don't have to live in fear. You really don't. 

Sometimes, a dog’s life seems pretty appealing. But, not really.  We humans have been created in the image of God and that is a miracle!  We have been created for relationship with God and that is a miracle!  As we spend time with God, He becomes bigger and our fears grow smaller. Who wouldn’t want that? Fear not, my friend. God is near.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:3316:33

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.