Scotty
is our 8 year old Maltese dog. Scotty is a good dog, he's extremely
loving and loveable, but he is without a doubt the dumbest dog I have
ever owned. He seems to be completely un trainable, except for being
housebroken. He doesn't know or do any tricks except to dance around
on his hind legs when he wants attention. He's not much of a
watchdog, relying on Blue, the Dachshund, to tell him when it is time
to bark. And, he's spoiled, insisting on being lifted onto the bed
instead of jumping on the trunk at the foot of the bed and then up
onto the bed. But for all of his intelligence shortcomings, Scotty
showed me something profound the other day.
I
have my alarm set for 5:30 AM. That gives me a little time to drink
coffee, read the headlines on the Internet and get to the gym before
someone else takes the Octane bicycle. Scotty and Blue tend to
pretend that they don't hear the alarm and stay in bed until it is
obvious that I am not coming back. I usually miss them waking up.
Sunday
mornings I don't tend to get up that early. I can “sleep in”
until 7:30 and still make it to Sunday School or Church depending on
which way I turn when leaving the driveway. This past Sunday, I was
awake and just laying in bed enjoying the warmth and knowing it was
cold as winter out side. (Seeing as how it is winter!) As a result,
I was there to watch Scotty wake up.
Scotty
started his morning by lifting his head and rolling up to onto his
tummy. He looked around the room, studying his “den” to make
sure all was well. Or, trying to remember where he was, as I have
said, he is not the brightest canine in the world.
Suddenly,
he jumped to his feet and began to wag his tail and wiggle his whole
little doggie body in paroxysms of pure joy. He came over and began
licking my face and tapping at me with his front paws. The dog was
just absolutely overcome with the joy of just being.
The
joy of just being.
The
joy of just being! What a wonderful way to start the day! How can I
learn to wake up like the dog and sing in my heart, “This is the
day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Can I
learn to wake up each morning with just joy and love and happiness in
my heart? How can the dog feel such joy while I have to look for it?
The
dog is not burdened with human thoughts and human wants. He is
creature of nature, simply one of God's creatures in God's world.
The dog does not worry about what kind of a house he lives in as long
as his “pack” is there together. Scotty doesn't care what kind
of car he rides in as long as he is riding with his people. He
doesn't care what kind of clothes his people wear as long as we are
here for him to love and to love him back.
And
to feed him twice a day. He is pretty insistent on that.
I
saw it there Sunday morning. That dumb, simple dog waking up just
joyous and happy and in love with life itself. That is how I should
start each day. I should start the day with joy and thanksgiving and
let the aches and pains and worries take a far distant second place
to the joy of being alive. I have to take a lesson from Scotty the
dog, life is good, and we should celebrate each day as a gift from
God, endless with possibilities. So easy, so simple; just greet each
day with joy, love of life and a spirit of thanksgiving.
Thank
you, Scotty. Maybe you are smarter than I think you are.
