Saturday, October 13, 2012

More than a Man and His Dog

Hello Friends.
At St. Anne's Homeless Shelter MOM and I often see people with their dogs.  Recently we saw a man sitting with his dog on the curb in front of the shelter.  While MOM and I are always touched by this scene, there was something that lit up our hearts.  There was a serenity and beauty about it.  St. Anne's sits on a major road in our city and it is just a block away from historic 25th street where there are many trendy restaurant and bars and cool little shops.  And there are people going about their day, work, errands, going to lunch, stuff like that.  MOM and I were rushing into the shelter to drop off some stuff.  So I guess we were rushing about too, or at least MOM was.  But the beauty of this man sitting with his dog made my MOM stop.  


MOM  was taken in by the pure kindness and obvious love this man and his dog shared.   MOM talked to the man for a while and petted his sweet companion.  Seeing my MOM talk with this man and his dog, Rosie was her name I think,  I thought about what I saw and what was being communicated.

It struck me what I believe, came to life and how it was so Christ like.  Sometimes the simplicity and beauty of Christ’s message of love and our “oneness” gets lost.  Sometimes it gets lost in the legalisms and dogmas of "religion".  If you take this man and his dog and place them within the walls of some churches (or sitting on the curb outside) you have an image of annoyance.  The man, and certainly his dog, would not be welcomed into what we call the Lord’s house, filled with worshiping people who are dressed more "appropriately"  and with the belief that God gives them his full glory as they are in possession of the dress and “credentials" earned to be in such a place. 

Maybe this man is not obedient to those things that would "qualify" him to obtain the "necessary" credentials to allow him to bask in God’s full glory from some  perspectives.  Yet the dog does not seem to care, and she holds nothing back from the man.

Some may see no useful purpose in the man’s life or actions.  Some may judge him for his choices. If the man is noticed, some may see a man in need of saving and a shower and a shave.   Yet they know nothing of him or his life, for they have not walked in his shoes.  Let alone had a conversation with him. 

But if one would look closely enough, you can find a teacher.  A teacher that brings awareness of the Divine that not only exists within him and the dog, but in their selves as well.  A reminder of the oneness that we all share, once the layers of a mind caught in the narratives that separate one from the other are stripped away.   Revealing our naked beauty through his naked beauty.  What greater gift could he give, what greater worth could he exhibit?

Moments like that bring me to the realization that Christ exists within all and that teachers do not exist as a matter of appointment, authority, privilege, association, or sanctity.  They are in our midst in many forms, speaking in one way to one and to another in another way.  But this teaching asks nothing of us from a theological or doctrinal perspective.  It is not “the thing”, it is simply a pointer.  So it seems religion should be the same.

From where I sit, this dog and this man are the literal embodiment of Christ speaking to us directly.  If Christ is not this, then what is he?
Blessings,
Goose
Peee S- Not all photos were taken by my MOM, but were used with permission.





42 comments:

  1. What a beautiful Sunday Post my friend. The love of a dog and the love of our Father in Heaven, how could anyone ask for more.
    Bert and My Vickie

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  2. Woof! Woof! Oh Goose. We are ending our Saturday and this post just made it complete. Beautiful photos. Best Friends. Happy Sunday. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  3. Great post! XOXO from all of us at Prancer Pie.

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  4. Wonderful post Goose. Really touching pix. Have a super Sunday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. What a wonderful post...thank you for sharing and understanding the simplicity of the love between people and their furbabies

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  6. What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing this message with us!

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  7. What a great post. So touching mide my eye's water. xx00xx
    Mollie and Alfie

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  8. Our eyes are watering here too. Lovely words.

    Rubie and her mum xxx

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  9. Oh my goodness we have been truly touched by this post. God and dogs both love us unconditionally once and forever. We pray these precious creatures and their humans find shelter.
    Hugs
    Madi and mom

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  10. This is a beautiful post. It goes to prove that LOVE does not mean Money Possessions or Power.

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  11. Yes indeed you may audit my Diva class...hopefully it will help you understand the long and short (pun intended)
    Of Pudfles
    Hugs
    M&M

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  12. I totally agree. That's a wonderful post Goose. Amen.

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  13. You had us crying at the first picture today Goose! What truly beautiful words you've given us this morning.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  14. This was such a touching post. True love exists everywhere! :)

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  15. My mom is in tears. Such a moving post.

    ~Higgins

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  16. you have a way with words Goose... are you sure you're a dog?

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  17. Great post my friend. we should all love unconditionally.
    kisses
    nellie

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  18. He walks among us...Thank you for seeing what many do not, and for sharing it. Beautiful.

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  19. Truer words have never been said.

    Kisses,

    Ruby

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  20. I totally agree Goose, I say it all the time, the Lord loves each of us unconditionally and its just like we love our humans, I don't care if my Mum is all done up in her make up and pretty clothes or if she is in her pjs with no make up and hair all over the place, she is my Mum and I love her, I accept who she is and nothing more, I don't ask for anything except love (andthe odd treat here and there) but its the message which you spread to us today of true love and beauty! Thank you! Love Frank XxxxX

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  21. Hey Goose, What a powerful post filled with such truth! I think we all to to be reminded to look beyond the outward appearance to the inner heart. Your mom has definitely taught me that-which says alot since we haven't even met in person. Thank you for posting this!
    Hugs, Noreen & Hunter

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  22. furry friends probably help those poor people
    Benny & Lily

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  23. Goose,
    Everyday you ring joy into our life with your blog, sometimes, silly, sometimes sad, sometimes joyous and today breathtaking.
    I wish their as a way that this could be read by everyone, it is such a powerful message in such simple words and photos.
    I will be posting the link to your blog on my FaceBook page, and hope that many will read this and have their eyes opened.
    Thank you for this wonderful piece.

    Sheila & Bob Johnson
    Hamish & Rescue Sophie

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  24. That's a beautiful post, Goose, and such a beautiful, heart-touching message. There is beauty - and there are lessons - all around us. We just have to open our eyes and our hearts.
    Thanks, Goose.
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  25. Goose, this is such a lovely post. We try to bring spirituality into mom's life whenever we can.

    -Bart and Ruby

    OMD!! yesterday mom saw an 8-month old YOU!! So gorgeous - and so full of energy. She thought of you...

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  26. A beautiful post that has truly touched my heart, in more ways than one because we had a senior Golden a few years ago that had belonged to a homeless man--I learned so much from the two of them..

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  27. Sigh - what "a" beautiful and deep post. Mom can type, honestly.

    Sam

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  28. Wonderful post Goose, what more can be said then as dogs we don't care about what race, color, religon, country of origin, but rather your love for us. Turely God put us here to take care of man and he us!!!!

    Loves & Hugs Goose
    Susie & Bites

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  29. This is why dogs are so important to humankind!

    Your friends,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  30. You never cease to touch our hearts! Thanks again!

    Baci & Logan

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  31. What a beautiful way for us to end our Sunday - such a loving and meaningful post, Goose. Thank you and your Mom.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  32. A beautiful post. Nothing is purer than love, and the love between a person and their dog is often the purest.

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  33. Such a beautiful post Goose.. a message that every man should read.

    Blessings,

    André Moreiras
    Passos Caninos

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  34. i see beautiful in this post.
    wags.

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  35. What a touching, fantastic post. Among other things, it shows that dogs are capable of seeing what most humans could never see.

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  36. A truly touching & beautiful post, Goose!

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  37. Mom had to come back today to read again...such a powerful and moving post! Thanks for sharing!

    ~Higgins

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  38. What a beautiful post and words! You've hit upon something a bit dear to Mom's heart with this one, I think.

    Bunny

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  39. Wonderful pictures. Yes, teachers take many forms.

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