I learned WHAT?

Wax on, wax off. Great exercise. What did you learn grasshopper?

Lots of time, and probably most all of the time, what we learn has little to do with the actual lesson or subject of study.

I got a dog. (yeah... you heard... it bears repeating!)

The lesson... my family loves me and worries about my health and are all deaf. They sure didn't hear me repeat "No DOG!". Ok... maybe not deaf but certainly highly selective hearing!

My daughter was in on this also. Now I dearly love my daughter but I know I can count on her for a good analysis of risks and benefits. She is VERY thorough! Someone tweaked this delightful womans brain from critical thinker to babbling Pollyanna. I can barely understand her. This whole this is scary!

I know I said this was a reflective blog to "examine the big picture". Yeah...

I got a dog. A dog that stays puppy for over 2 years! Reflect on that one Bubba!

So... what is the lesson? Remember that "rear view mirror" thing? That's where you most often figure out what the lesson was. Hence the "I learned WHAT?". The thing about lessons, as my teachers used to remind me, you have to be awake and paying attention. Not that your teachers ever had to tell you that! You probably were one of those that sat in the front row.

Back to the Dog and the lesson, or probable lesson. Rear view mirror wise and being a suspicious sort, I am suspecting that potty training a dog is probably not the point of this whole thing.

Possibility #1 - love transcends all, including repeated shouts of "NO DOGS!"

Possibility #everything else - I am missing the point.

Dogs... what is unusual about them? I have cats (four!) and I think that dogs are probably the only animal, most especially including humans, that offers unconditional love. They seem to be unique in that respect. I've already felt it. Those warm doggy eyes. That look of adoration. How in the... why would... I know me. I most certainly am not worthy of that kind of love. Fierce adoration, worshipful moments maybe... unconditional love? ah... probably not. That's God's domain. Way past my pay grade!

My first thought was and is still related to the commitment of having a dog. That love thing... a dog will not understand "go find a new owner". You can break off lots of relations, I really don't know how you could end a relationship with a dog that has given you unconditional love. Not and be anything remotely resembling anything I would like to call human.

How in all that is possible could God ever deal with loving us and all the brown stuff on a stick that we hand him back in return? Again.... mystery to me!

Am I learning what unconditional love is?... and the incredible obligation the recipient is under? I'm receiving unconditional love... where is my feeling of that massive obligation to not let the one loving me down?

Ah... I'm probably wrong and it is really just possibility #1. It has to be that. The lesson is that my family loves me more than they listen to me. Probably a very good thing. I am feeling better physically. I am loved by a great dog and an even greater (hmmmm...) family. That's a pretty good lesson and maybe enough for my limited ability to grasp.

If this was to answer my prayer for improved health and to sort of , "oh by the way", give me a real scary glimpse into something I probably do not want to really see... That level of love and obligation is much more than I am prepared to deal with. Then again... lessons are not always easy or instantaneous. Maybe I'll work into being worthy of a dogs unconditional love... It might even be that I end up being a better person.

Could you see yourself as the person your dog's heart knows you are?

Could you see yourself as the person God knows you are?

I might be capable of the first...with a lot of work. That second one is totally scary if you let yourself think about it. I just bet "lessons" have something to do about "thinking about things". You do miss some things sitting in the back row in school I guess. Maybe I'll move up a row or two and try to pay more attention.

School may not be out yet for an old dude like me. It's a possibility! I've got a good teacher.

Regards to all,

WebMouse