Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places:
Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ!
Blessings upon our animal companions.
Greta was a miniature black and tan dachshund who joined the family as a six-month old when I was nine. She had a crooked tail, never chased a stick or a ball, didn’t play with toys and spent most of her life under a blanket, along with being a steadfast companion to grandpa who wasn’t well and needed someone like her. Thank you, Greta, for being different than your average dog and the ways you blessed grandpa’s life, and my own.
Monet was a Bichon Friese, white all over with a little tan in places, who was to be my companion when I faced a bone marrow transplant at age 26. If the transplant was in any way successful, I was facing months in semi-isolation to recover, and Monet would be with me by my side. I never needed the transplant, thank goodness, but Monet remained by my side, for many years, and especially the night I almost died from blood poisoning from a catheter being used for cancer drugs. I was found the next morning delirious and rushed to the hospital in the nick of time. Monet stayed with me through the night. Thank you, Monet, for staying with me in difficult times.
Atticus the wonder dog. This little white poodle-mix was my partner in ministry in Ohio to the point where I felt I was just his mode of transportation. One day I forgot to bring him to a regular gathering at a nursing home and the people, all in wheelchairs, refused to start our singing until an assistant took my keys and drove forty-five minutes to my home and back to get him. Honest. They were overjoyed at seeing him and mad at me for forgetting him. I knew my place. When I left Cleveland to come here, the local paper did an article about my leaving and a front-page photo with Atticus sitting on my lap. Turn to page four and there was whole article about Atticus titled, “Eberts leaving means Atticus leaving too.” Wonder dog, indeed. Thank you, Atticus, for teaching me about the ministry of presence and loving the person in front of you.
Pippin is our present dog, again a while poodle-mix who had been on the streets in Albuquerque for a few months before he was found and taken to the shelter. He is licky and friendly, loves every human he meets, and soon is sitting on your lap. He was a mentor to two lovely older dogs we rescued, Iona Jane and Dibley, who left us all too soon, along with three fosters. The fourth foster failed, and we kept Skip who brings us joy each morning and the joy lasts until he falls asleep at night snuggled up with Pippin. Skip and all the other dogs have brought us tremendous love and companionship through the years, and it has been a pleasure to share our home with them.
This Sunday, join us with your pet(s) at either worship service as we bless the animals, knowing full well they have blessed us ten-times over. If your companion has left us in this life, please bring some remembrance and they will be blessed as well.
Grace and peace and animal blessings,
Harry