"Stop! No! Leave It Alone!"
Wednesday Inspiration
A while back, I was taking my dogs out the back door and into the fenced-in backyard where they could run off-leash. My big garage door was open. We could see into its depths from the top of the steps.
As usual, Loki stopped before descending. He looked intently into the garage.
Hope was in his eyes.
Hope for…squirrel.
As he scanned the opening in the garage for a small, furry interloper, you could almost hear his silent prayer, “Please, God, let there be one this time.”
Lo and behold, there was!
Like a rocket, he shot off of the top stair and cleared the distance with blinding speed. His brother, Lugh, right behind him.
I didn't see it until it was too late. I took off after them.
“Stop!”
I hate when they do this, but I have to admit that watching the two of them work together is quite amazing. Somehow they are completely on the same page. It's almost like they share a hive mind.
Yet, the agile squirrel evaded them repeatedly, weaving in and out of obstacles.
Finally, I was able to grab onto Loki and hold him still. Now, the squirrel only had to evade one dog.
It did so very well, escaped the garage, and zipped through the chain link fence unharmed.
*Whew*
Every time those dogs go out that door, they hope for that. I imagine they don’t think too highly of me after I ruin all their fun. After all…
What kind of person would dash their hopes against the rocks by preventing them from actually attaining their goal of catching the squirrel that they had desired for so long?
My response: The kind of person who believes that fulfilling one's hopes shouldn't be at the expense of another.
I realize that my dogs hope for the squirrels because they are predators who have been genetically designed to chase and eat in order to survive.
Humans, too, are wired to survive. But, we have evolved in a way that gives us the ability to perceive alternatives that my dogs do not have.
We do not need to cling to hopes that promote personal survival and ascendance at the expense of others.
We can work together toward making this world a better place for everyone.
Whatever it is that you hope for today, please don’t let it be something that will increase suffering in this world just so you can benefit personally.
Instead, hope for something that invigorates all those around you as well.
Peace, Bo
The Evolving Christian Faith Network
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