REALITY 101 #1

 

     Watching and waiting, mesmerized by the mysterious greatness of the ocean, I thought of walking in, much like Edna in the short story by Kate Chopin called "The Awakening."  It was a day, moment which should not have been.  A mistake, a 'what if.'  

     Walking into the ocean isn't something I seriously would do; I only romanticized the idea because of a sudden tragedy which the occurrence of another would change nothing.  The headlines would read like this:  "Local women drowns after her dog is killed by a hit-and-run."  Or:  "Tragedy strikes twice for one distraught local man."  Besides, I was a little afraid of deep water, the way Edna had been before she learned to swim.  

       My reality that day was this:  my little dog was gone forever; there was no way to change or reconcile it; I had to go through it.

     It happened so fast, a moment in time, less than two minutes, resulting from the carelessness of another dog's owner...and our dog's panic; in his panic he slipped out of his collar, ran, and was killed instantly by a car.  

      As I ran to the top of the hill and toward the main road, there he lay, still, on the road's center, his beautiful white fur splayed about him, not a mark on his body.  I thought being chased by the other dog had caused him to faint.  But no, he was gone; as I picked him up, I felt no heartbeat.  Our little miracle gift pup was dead, and I had to walk home, leash in hand, and tell my husband.  

     Whenever I walk by where our dog had his last breath, I am reminded of the kindness of the other dog's owners, how they drove me to the veterinarian, paid the vet to examine my dog, and extended their apologies for what was not their fault.  There was no fault; accidents happen but kindness alone could not make up for the loss of our dog.  It is part of life.  My husband had to be told, I did not walk into the ocean, and eventually we found us another lovely dog.

      Do I believe there is a reason for everything?  No, I don't.  Sometimes things just happen because they happen. What we do with it thereafter is what matters.  Do I believe God is in everything, and doesn't waste a hurt?  Yes, I do.  "He comforts us when we are in trouble, so we can share the same comfort with others in trouble..."  (2 Corinthians 1:4-5)

      I have a friend who believes our animals will be in heaven, and we will see them again.  And why not?  God made animals for us to take care of, to love, for comfort, and it is up to me to share this same comfort with others who have lost a pet.