The Definition of Insanity

Here's one:

"That dog ain't right."

Here's another: "Doing the same thing over and over with the same unwanted results."

The weather, as some of you may know, has been horrible of late. Rain, grey, rain, grey...cold, rain...clouds. The sun is an unknown object.

Despite the abysmal weather, the cats don't seem to understand. They go outside, discover it is raining, then want back in.

They walk to the other door, I let them out, they discover it's raining there too (gasp), then want back in. Multiply this by three cats (cat number four just sleeps) many times a day and everyone is frustrated.

Of course, it's me who lets them out and in, so really who's at fault?

And don't I often try the same thing, over and over, and get nowhere? Still, I try again, only to be surprised that my way is not working. When will I learn? Could it be that my way is...wrong?

Should I perhaps try instead to see what God might have in store? Does it require the "w" word - wait? Waiting for the storm to pass instead of running out into the midst of it. That seems wise. Why is it so difficult?

Expect the Unexpected

Late last week, I received three challenging situations that made me sad. Two of them were completely unexpected.

Sort of like St. Bernards and motorcycles. (Hi Brandy and Sandy!)

Do you dislike having your routine disrupted? I sure do. It's particularly challenging to hear bad news and then "go about your business" like everything is okay.

One situation is that our friend Brandy has been ill, and her prognosis is potentially life-threatening.

While this made me immensely sad, it's only a fraction of what their owners are going through, as they love their girls so much.

What's your knee-jerk reaction to bad news? I wish I could tell you that mine is not "ice cream therapy" but often it is. It's like if one of my senses goes off, I must immediately soothe another sense, usually taste.

So many areas of life are beyond our control. Most of us just hate being out of control. Giving in to what's convenient (the ice cream place's drive-thru!) generally contributes to us feeling less in control.

Only the Lord knows the beginning, middle and end of all the commotion and challenge of our lives. Only He controls not just the Big Picture, but also all those Little Pictures that look like our own self-portraits.

Would that I respond to crisis with a little talk with God before heading off for a double-dip of cappuccino chip ice cream. Part of this is that getting ice cream is a tangible response that produces an immediate result. Prayer is an act of faith with no visible action and with few quick answers. However, the long-term result of ice cream is extra weight, which I don't want. The long-term result of prayer is trusting the Lord and building a relationship with Him, no matter what the "answer" might be. That is more satisfying in the long-run, with implications for the eternal.

(And with fewer sit-ups)

Being a Champion

This week, Truffle celebrated his birthday (Hi Truffle! Happy Birthday!). The owners of one of Truffle's litter mates sent an email along with a picture of their dog winning a ribbon at a dog show.

That's not this picture, that's Truffle on the right. Isn't he handsome?

Truffle's owner wisely observed that maybe Truffle had those championship lines, but if he were a true show dog, most of his time would be spent with the handler, and not her. Instead, Truffle keeps the owner company, walks with her, and is a great companion at the beach (hi beach!).

Even though Truffle doesn't have the medals and ribbons to prove his ultra-fantastic blood line, he's still a champion.

Maybe we are not model thin, a member of Mensa or the Mayor of Kettlesville. That doesn't mean we are not important in God's economy. We can be a champion to the people in our lives, and even to those who are not in our lives. Invisible God uses us to show his love to others. Through Jesus, we are part of God's bloodline, even though we don't have ribbons and trophies to show for it. We are His and He is ours.

The Feeding Ceremony

Going out to eat is fun, isn't it? And while I've often gone to restaurants by myself, it's more fun with others.

While I was away some this winter, my friend who was feeding the cats asked me why they didn't tear into the bags of food that were near their bowls. It's for the same reason that the cats run to the food bowls at 4:30 everyday even when there is still food left in them.

The Feeding Ceremony.

Dog owners tell me how their dog won't eat their food until the family is at the table eating their dinner. Why?

The Feeding Ceremony.

There's something about the routine of preparing, feeding, and eating that is strangely comforting to both dogs and cats. And isn't it true for people as well?

Jesus said that he was the bread. He also said he was the water. What's that supposed to mean? All people can relate to eating. It's for sustaining life and growing. Bread is sustenance. Water is essential for life. Jesus sustains us with substance as well as refreshment.

Eating is community. Jesus wants us to be in community with each other. Hmmmm...is that where we get the word "Communion?" Togetherness isn't always easy. However, it's essential for a healthy life.

Find someone to share a meal with today!

Making the Most of Your Education

There are some things we just have to learn for ourselves. Maybe you were told by a parent or authority figure what to do but you ignored them. (Maybe? I did that all the time.)

If you're a little older, you probably find yourself telling, or thinking of telling, someone that they are about to make a mistake. It's the "brick wall" scenario. You know they are heading for a brick wall, and you're standing there yelling "you're heading for a brick wall." They keep on driving.

Sometimes we have to let people go their way. Other times, a well-intentioned, kindly worded warning is in order. Either way, many people just don't learn.

Take Olive for example. Obviously she is a very literate cat. She's the smallest and oldest cat in the house (and crankiest). Her favorite hobby is sleeping. She doesn't seem to use her knowledge well. Or, maybe she is, who knows.

Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. Proverbs is a book in the Bible that has plenty of wisdom on a variety of subjects. Is it a rulebook we must follow in order to please God? In fact, it is a gift from God to us. If we do our best to follow His wisdom and ways, our daily living will be much better.

God loves us enough to warn us of the brick walls. We must be wise enough to listen. Fortunately, God lovingly embraces us when we do mess up and run back to Him. Grace.

If Dogs Could Laugh

If dogs had thumbs, they'd open the refrigerator and stare at the contents longer than I do. If dogs could laugh, Tilly would spend most of her waking moments in a fit of giggles.

Just look at her.

Silly Tilly.

The other morning as I was waking up, I heard her roll over on her dog bed and it made a funny noise. I opened my eyes and she was looking at it with ears back. I started to laugh. She wagged her tail at me. It made me think that if she could, she would giggle.

In fact, she would laugh at just about everything. When she finds her favorite ball outside, she pounces on it with great enthusiasm (it is called a Jolly Ball after all). When I come home, she grabs the nearest toy or bone and runs around the house in happy celebration. She constantly coaxes Foster into playing by jabbing him in the ear. While she may not always be so endearing by these behaviors, there's no doubt she's a happy dog.

Here she is with her Kooky Chicken (from the Kooky Chicken Swim Party Collection).

Can't you hear the giggles?

Wouldn't it be nice to always be so carefree? Why aren't we? Yes, there are always complications in our lives. Picking up the morning paper or listening to the news is enough to make one, well, kooky. But there must be a bigger picture.

This morning I heard that in order for us to give we must first feel loved and free. God loves us, and certainly he has rid us of the bondage of sin, the guilt of messing up, and our less-than-perfect selves. We are free! We can give and love without fear.

When do people laugh? In response to something that is funny, right? Yes, but before one can laugh, they must feel safe. Laughter abounds when one is free.

What a One-Eyed Dog Taught Me about My Own Personal Weakness

Over the last six months, Foster has lost his vision. After learning last year that surgery would not prevent this, it was only a matter of time. Unfortunately, one of the eyes had an "issue" and had to be removed/

The surgery was this past Thursday and after I picked him up, I thought I might cry all the way home. However, by Sunday, he was back to his familiar routine, even retrieving the Sunday paper for me (which he found by bumping into it).

One of my friends works at the veterinarian's office and has known Foster since I got him at six months of age. He's always been a happy and energetic dog who loves to entertain guests. She was as concerned about this surgery as I was and asked the vet, "What if he loses the other eye?" The vet's response was, "He's got Lynne."

That sounds simple enough, doesn't it?

That night, I had a dream that Foster's surgery completely failed and while I carried him (as a much smaller, weaker and near-death dog), I entered an old house where there were dying cats, dogs and an old man. It was horrible.

When I woke up, in a sweat, I realized what this dream was about. I was the caretaker for my husband before he died eight years ago of ALS, one month shy of his fortieth birthday. My husband was extremely outgoing and loved to entertain every guest to our home. He and Foster were always the happiest creatures in our home.

However, realizing Foster was now even more dependent on me triggered the memory of care taking a very dependent husband. It only felt like a burden sometimes, but the end was inevitable. It seems to be the same for my dog. It obviously weighed on me enough to induce the dream that was about failure and death.

All of us have burdens we've had to overcome. Even years later, those issues can pop up somewhat unexpectedly. It would be easy to give up or give in to the hardships that come our way.

My husband was a wrestler in college and used to bump up a weight class just to improve his skills. His strategy worked as he was a national champion his senior year.

This same idea has helped me get through the years since he's been gone. With my blind dog, and with my other areas of my life, I'm reminding myself to "wrestle up" to more challenges. For me, the only way I can be successful is to walk with God and rely on His greater provision every day. Confidence and strength are the result of accomplishing difficult circumstances.

Rolling over and lying flat on the mat is not an option.

Think about what's trying to get you to quit today. Instead of feeling derailed and defeated, take that energy and turn it into motivation. Then keep doing it. No matter what. Then you'll be a champion!