Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Eyes To See

"When we can see the image of God where we don't want to see the image of God, then we see with eyes not our own."
~ Everything Belongs

This was just one of many gems I read while I was waiting in the doctor's office yesterday. I love this book and if I read it too many more times I'm going to have it underlined from beginning to end. I continue to pray to have eyes to see.

I slept for 12 hours last night. Lovely needles in the shoulder....not. "Ouch," I say more than once yesterday as the doctor tries to find the right spot. "Sorry," the doctor replies, "I hit a bone there." Makes me grit my teeth just typing that. Lord, give him eyes to see. Past the bone. Please.
But the good news is that I haven't needed the shots for nearly 6 months and hopefully that trend will continue. It's much better than weekly ones.

The injections usually make my heart act up and it was going double time for a bit yesterday when the energizer bunny got lost in the bush. I'd bought her a fluorescent orange jacket this past week. She knows already when I pull it out that means we are going for a walk. She sees it and starts whining and making a ruckus. She loves going for a walk. Once out on the road yesterday she decided to follow one of the other dogs (yes, we have two outside dogs, too) into the bush. In my more paranoid moments I am convinced that dog purposely led her on that jaunt to lose her. She is the pack leader and does not like the energizer bunny one little bit.

Anyway, I briefly thought about that as I saw the two of them head into the bush, then continued on my walk with the other dog. When I got back to the yard there was no energizer bunny to be found. It wasn't too long until night fall so dearest one and I headed in the bush to find her. There was fresh snow so that helped, but it was still a tad bit too long until she was found. She'd got hung up on a branch and wriggled out of her jacket. We assumed she'd whine and howl that she was lost, especially when we yelled for her, but instead she happily walked back and forth on her little trail in the bush, waiting to be found. By that time she was shivering with cold. She happily snuggled into his jacket on the way back to the house. I told her maybe there are guardian angels for dogs. And she shouldn't keep hers out in the cold so long. No more side trips for her. No sirree.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful quote you opened with.

You know, I'm not a Catholic. Technically I'm not even a Christian, but I had the pleasure and good fortune several years ago to work as a retail manager at a thrift store run by the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul. While the store existed to make a profit, create jobs for the disadvantaged, and provide quality merchandise at really low prices, the people who were actually involved in the work for which the store existed were a small group of dedicated individuals from each of the local parishes who worked directly with needy individuals and families in our community, providing cash assistance, shopping vouchers, etc., to help provide for their material needs, and visiting with them, befriending them, and providing spiritual and emotional support - one-on-one, in person, and without regard to the faith of those they helped. They did this specifically to see the face of God and experience God's love, in the place where few would choose to look for it. Watching them, and helping them with their work, profoundly changed how I see others and why I serve others.

Though the God I came to know in recovery is indeed a God of my own understanding, I am quick to see how right these people are. "In as much as you have done so unto the least of these, my brothers, you have done so unto me."

Lou said...

I was going to leave a comment,but got lost in the quote on the comment above. Every time I see that quote it gives me goosebumps.

Hope said...

Chris - I have underlined in my big book where it says "be quick to see where religious people are right" - you are doing exactly that. Thank you for leaving such a thought filled comment.

Lou - much food for thought there, I agree.

Unknown said...

Thank you for such an amazing post and the ensuing comments are very thoughtful and thought provoking. Thank you for your post.
G

Anonymous said...

Poor bunny! You must have been so worried.

"and if I read it too many more times I'm going to have it underlined from beginning to end."

I can certainly see that. It's all good and I intend to read it again during the Christmas break if I can pry it out of hubby's hands.

Mich

Peter said...

Good stuff all round. And EB reminded me of the time Sheba decided to chase a group of whitetail deer into the bush (stupid dog)--lots of anxious calling and she eventually came back with this big grin on her face. But a deer can make mincemeat out of a dog with a swift flick of the hoof and a lot of hoof-pounding thereafter--and one of the deer was a male with his harem nearby.

Guess who is no longer off the leash, even for a minute, these 8 years later...?

annie said...

Never having lived in a place with such treacherous weather conditions, I tend to forget how dangerous life can be in such cold weather conditions. I'm glad y'all found her.