Dogs and their People

Recently I had an interesting exchange with a homeless man who inhabits certain strategic spots in our neighborhood. He gratefully received a bit of my charity, and then I asked if he was also feeding his large canine companion with the offerings collected here. Obviously I was not the first to ask that question. “Yes, ... he is … family,” was the quietspoken heartfelt answer. Very obviously these two are inseparable probably until death do them part. The farmyard of my growing up in Saskatchewan always had a dog or two, but I have never 'owned' one. The rather personal answer from this young man gets my thinker going! I may not own a dog but I know I have been participant in many of these furry codependent friendships especially in last year or so, enough to get me going with a few thoughts.

Many incidents come to mind. Here are a few samples. About a month ago a small group from our church planned a little fellowship at an outdoor firepit on our ample property. Located among the acreages just beyond city limits, most of this congregation’s summertime programs of bygone years are now a faint memory. This is a consequence of last several decades of decisions driven by real estate prices rather than outreach and neighborhood considerations. Anyway, this fine evening one of our couples saw fit to bring their dog. What a happy coincidence; this big shaggy appeared clearly informing all this was the happiest day of her life. With tongue lolling and tail wagging Sophie made the rounds greeting everyone old, young or in between. Her enjoyment of us all began to affect the whole gathering to the extent that in short order there was laughter and happiness everywhere. Food got shared and tasted even better. Eventually she was under a blanket with a bunch of squealing kids – just enjoying the cozies! There was nothing she did not enjoy doing. Also fascinating was the relationship with her papa, the alpha of her life. When it was time to go home it was but one opening of the truck door and a nice little signal to jump in, and in she jumped (I think I am of the age where I am impressed by obedience).😏 There she sat in her spot in the truck, tongue still hanging out in happiness. A good time had by all!

Of the many options for urban travel, walking is very popular, especially with fit bits and step counters helping us all to know we are doing the good thing. Most walks are part canine, part human. I walk solo, usually including some social interaction, and the dogs know all about it. I try for a slight eye contact with the human, and then greet the dog, “Hi pooch”, this then followed by smile, greeting, or even conversation with said dog walker! And I don't impose on the grumpy walkers. When they come along totally absorbed in their own world, I check with the canine. If they look at me I'll "Hi pooch" em. If not we keep right on trucking.😉

 

My daughters regularly utilize public transit. Since pets are now allowed on board, this provides considerable entertainment for them, usually showing up in WhatsApp pics and hilarious comments appearing as ‘family time’ for all of us, this then reiterated by Mango stories – our son and family’s dog in Ontario. Their dog worships each member in their household, seemingly all activities in this busy home participated in with full golden doodle approval, all this alongside the feline critique from Marigold the 'boss' who already lived there before the dog. Similarly from our son in Winnipeg, I am fascinated by family love communicated so easily via pets.

Then there is my brother and his wife. They live in Colorado, lifelong proponents of radical simple living from their bare bones little house in a low income Colorado Springs community along with interfaith and ecumenical neighbors, all living next door to the largest military base in the U.S. Always there are community meetings and vigils in support of local causes and of course many public actions like making and holding anti-war and pro-peace banners. Fascinating lifestyle also including, as witnessed by any and all who visit their homey place, a tiny little canine who commands center stage. No entry or departure goes by without some reference or greetings to Sparky the ever believing onsite mental health therapist.

Enough illustrations for now. Apparently this is a trend, especially in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Mental health requires not only relationships but refreshment and new discoveries in those relationships, new ways of being. Hence the current increased demand for dogs. The irony is that this demand is coterminous with increasing homelessness, food and housing shortage. Many of these dogs are not cheap, thousands of dollars per animal spent on purchase and diet and health care. Veterinarians also in high demand, many of them in sync with privatized health care mentality at least in the U.S.A. and in this western Canadian province. Even with these financial inequities the dog option is still kind of a societal equalizer - needed by the privileged as well as the destitute. This reminds me of a book I once read (cannot remember the title) about canine hierarchy. In this novel the alpha dog in the neighborhood was the companion of the homeless guy who scrounged through garbage cans. Among the uppity pooches and poodles the canine who scrounged and found food with his human – was superior!  A few months ago I read an essay, a dissertation proposal by a friend working on his PhD.[i] It is about a religious movement in eastern South Sudan headed by a Prophet who lived among the villagers there. His teachings and miracles were so well known and he was so in demand that, according to this essay, he anointed some dogs to visit the sick, many people healed thanks to their licks. My western utilitarian mindset is inclined to resist this as anecdotal, perhaps pagan folklore. I am however assured these incidents are bona fide. Not totally convinced especially as I read my Bible (same Bible as my African friends) dogs are referred to kind of derisively, eg Psalm 68:23 "that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.” and also in the New Testament Mark 7:27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” It is worth noting that Jesus in his story about the rich man and Lazarus makes positive reference to dogs, Luke 16:21 "and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores." I would say that dogs are part and parcel of community, seemingly always there, sometimes serving as wastebaskets and sometimes as agents of healing, simply doing what dogs do.

Present among all cultures and traditions, dogs recognize their place alongside us humans in whatever state we may be in. Even as we live and move among our fellows looking for a way out of a pandemic or political outrages like our Premier trying to take Alberta out of Canada Pension Plan or latest furor in Ottawa because yesterday the liberals honored an elderly Nazi WW2 soldier, creating mixed signals all over the world and probably a smile on the face of Russia's Vladimir Putin, I am pleased to greet pooches as I go about my daily routines.

Dogs have been around for ages, if not in domesticated version then in the wild, and our Indigenous friends have stories about them as well. We are beneficiaries of the canine therapists that have been provided for us. The friendly demeanor (from most of them) is an assurance and an invite to participate with them in all that’s going around these days. 

__________

[i] William Riek Tut, “The Conflict between the Eastern Jikany Nuer Christians in South Sudan and the Prophet Tukuach Bangoang” (Unpublished dissertation proposal, 2023).

 

 

A Topic

It is easier to talk about things and about other people than it is to speak with those others. These words recently spoken by one of my friends older and more experienced than I. He said it with a little smile and even a twinkle in his eye. The occasion of those words was simply near end of a conversation we had been having, good intentions and all, about a dilemma both of us obviously aware a ‘little more’ was needed to address it properly. These are good words from my elderly friend, also words easier to write about than put into practice.

I have a neighbor who comes to mind. Our lives have crossed and intertwined for thirty plus years. We have helped each other build fences, cut down trees, and many chit chats in the back alley between our properties. About three years ago his lawn suddenly went into disrepair and lapsed into a slightly ragged look, totally uncharacteristic of this my friend. So one day after ringing his doorbells several times, no answer, I went into neighbor mode, grabbed my rake and tools and began to scratch around on his grass determining this to be my job, given the history we already shared. Wrong!! He stormed out of his house and told me to go mind my own goddamn business. My sputtering responses wondering if they were okay, etc. not even answered. My poking in his lawn was offensive, seemed not to be understood. He cannot face me now. We have not spoken since. I grieve our lapsed relationship every day. Something gone wrong. I spare you my speculations.

I think of my recent blogpost “When I don’t Write” – and the thoughtful responses from several of you. In that post I made case for laying off the verbiage a bit, give it a break, also realizing that that is but for a time. Indeed further thinking brings to mind the Old Testament wisdom  saying, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). With time moving along things change. There is a time to write but the writing (blogs in this case) not the full extant either. Even as I said then, writing is more than making good sentences. To sit here at my laptop and type away is to make it a topic. Topics garner opinions, and opinions in and of themselves not the whole picture.

Media (especially social media) is an especial illustration of incomplete communication. Not only incomplete, but divisive, especially if worded in hyperbole – negatively or cynically – yielding usually an equal and opposite response. Right, we are still in opinions! Enter journalists, and the reading populace and the coffee shop and watering holes. By now it is a mixture of entertainment and even bullying as sometimes the person with the loudest voice or best joke wins the round. And yes journalists capitalize on this trend, making their hefty wage fueling these fires of half-truths and strong opinions. Nothing new, that danger has always been, Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark (James 3:5). Yes, most of our light reading or listening is treated to at least a liberal or a conservative version of opinion, my city of Calgary with at least two firestarters. Choose your gospel for the day; Rick Bell entertains the rednecks and Don Braid the progressives (as liberal as Alberta will tolerate)! They are both interesting writers and both have their on days and off days.

To write or not to write, to speak or not to speak. Occasions or incidents can so easily become mere topics, and topics run even farther afield of communication, to say nothing of the truth. At this point it’s important to me (writing from my faith vantage obviously) to pause and reflect on how I, or any of us reading here, practice a faith that believes in God/Creator/Allah. This morning my wife and I read from James chapter 2, our morning read. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (:14). The topic was actually about deeds, or physical acts of compassion which need to show up as evidence of our faith. I posit that these good deeds, important as they are, need to come out of an inner spirit that is empowered, enabled by the very God we have faith in. And that is more than opinions or topics so readily peddled. As I have said many times previously, God is beyond all this and also beyond description, beyond words or explanation and certainly beyond the myriads of Christian denominations either blossoming or dying these days. Recently I heard the best sermon I have heard in years, perhaps the most forthright ever. It came from someone not of my tradition, most profoundly a man of faith and undeniable confidence. Here is a brief quote.

I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn,

malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them.

Many seem eager to damage another's reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs.

Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one.

Contention never leads to inspired solutions.

Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children,

of those who use angry outbursts to control others,

and of those who punish family members with the silent treatment.

We hear of youth and children who bully

and of employees who defame their colleagues.

My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be.

As disciples of Jesus Christ,

we are to be examples of how to interact with others,

especially when we have differences of opinion.[i]

So said Dr. Nelson, current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The respected teachings of this notable modern day Prophet are pastoral and biblical. While I do not concur with the extra-biblical sourcing of this faith community, I fully concur with this sermon, a message for all people, quoting Jesus from the Holy Bible in support of his words. Especially significant is his appeal to a universal civility, directed to the temple faithful which in fact becomes a message also to any of us who wish to hear (Yes it is in public domain). How do we speak of theology, of politics, of relational and family problems, and other faith traditions? The title of this sermon was “Peacemakers Needed.” Needless to say this title drew immediate attention from this peace church preacher! 😏 Within our ranks and in many others, we are progressives, liberals, conservatives, or heathen (at least as per the labels we tag on each other). Can we give heed to the message of Jesus spoken here? This is a message for all. With help from this elder Prophet (he’s 99 years old) I ask myself and all of us: Are we political or theological topics or are we a community? We definitely need each other.

Come to think of it, perhaps one of these days an opportunity will come for me to tell my neighbor about this head of the 'Mormon church' who recently told his people and all of us that we need to be peaceable in relating to one another. Wouldn’t it be nice then if this Mennonite and this Anglican could have some chuckles about that and then just plain old get back on speaking terms?

---

[i]Dr. Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed,” General Conference, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April 2, 2023.

 

Victim or Guest?

Dec. 5/03

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6)

Apprehensions abound

A person of faith wishes to believe the best

And it’s good to anticipate the best

But my truck is almost ready and I hope I made right decisions.

 

Two days ago the turbo blew

22000 kms beyond warranty!

I chose to have repairs done by the same people who provided the tow.

Although not certified for warranty work they seemed credible

And it was cheaper than having truck towed 150 miles to Freightliner in Missoula.

My prayer has been that I make the most informed expedient decisions

In this undesirable circumstance.

 

It’s 10:00 a.m. and apparently truck is about ready.

I will be appreciative

I will review their parts and service warranty

I will request evidence of parts coming from Freightliner Missoula

I will fax this info to Calgary Freightliner.

 

Everybody is ex-military

And all conversations turn to liberal or conservative

And I can feel who are the bad guys

And the American mentality is so easily recognized.

Even as I can smell a person’s allegiances quickly

So they probably smell mine.

Without paranoia, my caution is however needed to assure that I not be victimized by this unfortunate breakdown in Montana.

Lord God, please let this be an honorable and a gracious business transaction.

Into thy hands I commit this day.

 

(Insert many years later, Nov. 1, 2017:  No problem whatsoever with that repair job. In fact I read the above with gratitude both for my clear thinking at that time, and also the good service and workmanship provided by that repair shop).

(Insert even more years later, Sept. 6, 2023: And gratitude still for good incidents like this. Life was considerably civil during those o/o years).