Isn’t it crazy how some things get to you and others don’t.
Isn’t it crazy how some things bother you one moment and then don’t bother you another?
Case in point: today.
I wrote here about an event which happened over 5 years ago. The exact date is July 11, 2009 when the event happened. I posted an update here. Ever since then I have had this love/hate relationship with the animals. I will confess to daydreams of some of them coming out onto the road and some not so nice things happening to them (not me…them).
But I never wanted to see what I saw today. I decided to ride this afternoon (Sunday). I took a different route, largely due to some road resurfacing which made one of the roads I used to ride an absolute dream. Even if it was a hill. 🙂 Due to time constraint, I chose to go home a different way, one I have not ridden for quite awhile. I had been by this farm often in the past and they had some sheep dogs which came to the fence but stopped. They were actually Grand Pyrenees. Today I was riding past this same farm and one of them came out into the road after me and a car coming the opposite direction hit it full on. I heard it whimper one time when I turned around and when I went to him he was gone.
I wish I could say I was thrilled…that my evil twin was satisfied. All I felt was sad. I know the man who owns the dog and I could see the pain on his face. I stayed until the sheriff came then he said I could leave. I wish I could say I rode away with a lighter feeling in my gut.
I can’t.
Dogs will act like dogs. Cats act like cats (I don’t like them at all-Sorry Zee-but they seem to gravitate toward me. Why is that?) 🙂 Dogs will chase bikes, cars, and anything which moves.
I was sad. Am I that sad about those who pursue empty pursuits in their quest for meaning? Do I walk away from people who turn away from Jesus that sad…sick in the gut over their latest rejection (not of me but of Jesus)?
Again…I wish I could say Yes. But I can’t. Least not every time. But I pray for a heart like Jesus. I pray for a heart which breaks for each and every person. I pray for it to be true of me what Bob Pearce once said, “May my heart break with the things which break the heart of God.”
And you?
Until our hearts are in pieces on the floor, compassion and grace will be nowhere to be found.
It does seem to be that way.
I am glad that you stuck around and took that man’s hurt seriously.
I am too. I was actually meeting someone and had to let them know I would be late.
I wish that I could have a tender heart. Instead,I am too often hard hearted. I don’t know how to cultivate that, except to ask God to make it happen within me.
I believe that is the best way to go about it.
This life certainly is a vale of tears.
Enjoy the good and happy times and moments…for they too, will pass.
Very true Stephen. Both sides of the coin.
:'( Sad for the dog and even more so for the owner. Even though I am more of a cat person (you know that well, hehe), I do like dogs as well (as long as they are not smaller than a cat). (By the way, my current cat acts like a dog, at least that’s what people say.)
As for the spiritual application. I often find myself thinking that I actually might be caring for animals more than for people (and I do realize it sounds bad)… I just think that people can make choices and animals can’t (more often than not).
Dogs smaller than cats are big rats (my opinion). 🙂 You do raise an issue for many: treating animals better than they treat people.
Re: tiny dogs – YES!!! In Kyiv, since it’s a capital and everyone wants to “look good and fashionable,” many girls think it is very cool to have those rat-like pets they call dogs with high-pitched voices, constant trembling, that have to be carried everywhere…
Ahem. Yeah. Suffice to say, I don’t like those dogs. Wolves and any kind of big dogs – LOVE them.
So, so sad, Bill. What hit me from your post is that I was crying my eyes out about the dog (one that I never petted or even saw a picture of) and realized how seldom I have done that people who have passed away that I who lived a life chasing the wind. 🙁
That is what hit me also Pam. I tend to go through life at times with blinders on.
I think maybe the cats gravitating to you is God’s way to stretching your heart and patients 🙂
My husband hated cats but when we started dating I told him the cat was part of dating me. I wouldn’t get rid of it. Ten years down the road my husband likes my cat…though he doesn’t like to admit it.
Sorry TC. I just can’t like cats. 🙂 Fortunately my grandson is allergic to pet dander so no pet is in store for us at any time.
TC Avey – hahaha, my husband claimed he doesn’t like cats since he’s a dog person. Well, what d’you know? Our cat has him wrapped around her paw and he can do pretty much anything for her 😀 (Now his claim changed to “I don’t like cats, I just love ours.”) 🙂
Poor Sam.