Message 21: Live In the Moment

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

One of the hardest things for me is to be present. To live in the moment, not dwelling on the past or worrying about what lies ahead.

But dogs have no trouble with this at all. They’re a fabulous example of how to be present. Things that they find extremely upsetting—like not getting a treat when another does, or suitcases being packed—are gone and forgotten as soon as the reminders fade away. If a dog could talk, and you asked him, “Remember yesterday when you got mad because…” he would say, “Huh? When what happened?”

Likewise, dogs don’t worry about the future. They might worry about the very immediate future (like with the suitcase packing), but they don’t think very far ahead. They live in the moment. What they feel is based on what’s happening right that moment. What they want to do at any given time. That's their focus.

If I want to learn to be present, I have to think like a dog.

Message 20: Serve Us!

There’s an old joke that if aliens were to invade the planet, they would think dogs ruled over humans because we clean up their waste, feed them, give them water, and seemingly get nothing in return. So, aliens would assume humans were servants to dogs.

Peanut definitely has me trained as her servant. When her water is empty, she nudges the cup against the wall so I hear it and refill it. And if I don’t do it promptly, she just keeps on nudging it. When she wants to go outside, she rings the bell as she was trained, and she’s pretty incessant about it until I respond to her wish. She knows exactly how to communicate what she needs, and she expects me to drop everything and do it.

Biscuit has me trained in his own way. He has this one specific face he makes when he has finished his dinner, because after dinner he gets his homemade blueberry treat. It's his blueberry face. And he knows that if he wants attention for whatever reason, he can just hit me in the face and I'll give it to him.

The funny thing is, no matter how much I serve them...making homemade dinners and treats, cleaning up their poop...they don't really appreciate it. I mean sure, they love me and turn to me for care, but they don't appreciate the individual actions of service. In fact, when it comes to that homemade food, they wonder what's taking me so long. When I stop a walk to clean up their poop, they want me to keep going! My service is just too slow!

Despite this lack of appreciation, I take great joy in serving them. And I wonder...what if I had the same view of serving other people?

Message 19: Own Your Beliefs

When Biscuit and Peanut play fetch with me, he usually tires before her. But, not wanting to be left out, he continues to play. Since he has a hard time outrunning her even at his best, he devises a new strategy: he cheats.

How does one cheat at fetch, you might ask? He doesn’t even try to chase the ball or toy. He stands in front of me, blocking Peanut’s path to me, and waits for her to return so he can steal it from her. And he usually succeeds.

If you grew up in a Christian home like I did, there’s a time in childhood when your faith is largely just copying your parents’ faith. They take you to church. They encourage you to read your Bible. Maybe they lead you in family devotions. That’s all well and good when you’re a child. But when you get into your teen and adult years, there comes a point where you can’t leech off of your parents’ faith anymore. You can’t be like Biscuit, letting someone else do all the work while you get the credit. You have to make the decision: are you in the game, or not? And if you’re in it, you’re in it all the way.