Samson

Today I am referring to my dog, not the Biblical character. Samson has been my companion for nearly thirteen years; however, when Dale and I were married seven years ago -Dale won Samson's heart as quickly as he won mine. When Dale is here, he tends to Samson's every need - which has been growing steadily over the past couple of years. As Samson has joined the senior ranks, his age is showing. His hearing is all but gone. His eyesight is obviously strained. His assortment of meds have become an important daily ritual. He barks more and more .. we wonder if it is because he can't hear himself!

When I have a day at home, it rarely passes without my taking a quick "refresher" nap. It used to be that Samson could anticipate my napping; he would race in front of me, and leap up on our bed to join me. Sometimes, if he wasn't paying attention, I would say, "Samson, come on! It's our favorite time of the day!" It has been nearly a year since he has been able to leap up on our bed, and so his interest in our "favorite time of the day" seems to have been waning.

This past weekend our home was unusually quiet; it was just Samson and me. I found myself paying more attention to his barking, and to the needs that were behind it. For several days in a row Samson started barking each time I laid down. This was after our walk. And after getting a treat, or two. Tired and ready to sleep, I was frustrated. We got up to go out again. There was more barking. I gave him yet another treat. There was more barking. Finally, it dawned on me: Samson wanted up on the bed! With a gentle scoop, I placed Samson on the end of the bed and he was perfectly content. The gentle scoop has become our new nighttime ritual.

I keep thinking about how often we must pacify those around us with "treats" because we fail to understand someones real need and desire. As humans, we have the advantage of speech but we often resort to our own forms of barking - irritability, unnecessary comments, withdrawal. Samson has inspired me to try to listen more closely to those who seem to be barking, and to try to articulate my needs more clearly to those I love.

A New Channel of Communication

For the past year I have been considering entering the blogging world, mostly because I had heard that blogging is such a powerful channel of communication. However, there is a difference between hearing about something and experiencing it. My experience convinced me that this was something I should try to do.

Recently I have been following two blogs, Mary's Blog for Healing and Tom's Ohio Nature Blog. Each, in a different way, has not only informed me about what is happening in his or her corner of the world, but has also inspired me to see grace and hope in my own life experience. As the pastor of St. John's, I have a unique vantage point from the church that sits at Third and Mound. Through this blog, I hope to share some of the things I see that inspire me.

What are the blogs that you follow and how do they inspire you?