Dog Theology, part 11: Fear

Dakota's sweet face

Here's the simple fact: Dakota, despite the fact that she's a 50lb hound, is a scaredee-cat.

She was a stray that found us at only ~8 weeks of age. She'd been food deprived, living out on her own for some time, and was likely abused by an adult man. We suspect the creulty from a man, because her entire life she's been averse to adult males taking significant time to warm up to them. With women and kids she's fine.

A bit of dog psychology: Because of Dakota's early 'dog-hood' her paradigm says the world is a fearful place. It's a place where food is scarce (she still eats every meal as if it were her last), and all manner of things are scary. She has always had a stronger sense of autonomy exuding an air that in the end, she will have to take care of herself. All these things I attribute to her early weeks of life.

Still today, despite the loving home she's spent the rest of her lush life, when faced with something new, her first reaction is fear. Whether it's a large box, a bike or a bunch of groceries, as I carry it into the apartment, Dakota is afraid, because the world is a scary place.

Fear is the dominant force in her life (well....fear and....food).

I'm reminded that perhaps the most often repeated bit of adivce in the Bible, perhaps the simplest and most central core implorment of the Bible, is this message: Do not fear. It's the single most repeated message throughout both Old and New Testaments.

Do not be afraid. It's the first thing the burning bush said to Moses, it's what angels always say when appearing to humans, it's what Jesus said when he appear after the crucifixion narratives. If the Bible could be reduced to a few simple statements, this would surely be one of them.

The Puptons Camping

The Bible was written over the course of hundreds of years by people from a number of different cultures. It would seem that these inspired prophets, these wise sages, these men and women full of life experience who know something about the human condition, all agree on one of the most needed messages for people across cultures and generations. And that message (or at least one of them) is: Do not fear!

I sense Dakota needing to hear this message as well.

In contrast to our 4-legged jet black beauty, our other Dog, Lola, has a quite different personality. Lola's unbringing was very different. When she was about 2 months old we picked her up from someone selling mutt puppies cheap on craig's list. From birth, Lola was surrounded by her dog siblings in a kennel, her parents, other older dogs and a caring human. She recieved regular food, love and all manner of nourishment. Of course, she's gotten nothing less living with us.

And, Lola isn't afraid of anything!

(Except when she's in trouble)

For Lola, the world is a loving place where she is loved by all and loves all in return. She is the most loving little thing you can imagine. She's kind of a lovin' hoe, because she'll give it to anybody. (Lola even likes my dad!, of whom Dakota is mysteriously terrified.)

When I brnig a new person or large strange thing into the apartment, Lola is front and center to check it out and recieve rubbin' if possible. She experiences the full range of pleasure available to a dog. She gives 110% to everything she does (sometimes this ends with a trip to the Vet ER) without reservation or hesitation. Lola is a lover of life, because from life she has received love.

As I go door to door to door through the hospital, visiting the sick, the dying, and those simply here for a minor procedure, I hear peoples' stories, problems, celebrations, problems, gripes, wishes, what's bugging people, their dreams, and did I mention...problems?

Lola dug a whole and then curled up in it

One thing I've noticed is that there are Dakotas all over the place. People living in fear. Might we admit that we all have a bit of Dakota's world view in us. To each of us, somehow, the world is a scary place. People are to be feared. Or certain actions are to be avoided. Or thoughts. Someone's going to hurt me, take my stuff. What I have is fragile. This meal may be my last. We all somehow, seem to be living in some kind of fear. And for most of us, we're experts at hiding our deepest fears, often even from ourselves.

Seeing this trend, the biblical voices urging, imploring, pleading with its readers and hearers sounds as a bugel horn loud and clear: DO NOT FEAR! Admittedly, this is something we could all benefit from hearing and heading.

Through my dogs, I hear God inviting me, inviting us, into a life away from needless fear. I see Jesus in the gospel stories inviting people into life as Lola sees it. With pointedness, Jesus is saying, "Live, love, give, relate, grow, learn, embrace, accept, forgive. And do it all without reservation, hesitation and with 110%." This is the way to life, the way out from fear. When Jesus claimed to be "the way" and "the life" he wasn't saying 'I'm the pathway to heaven. He was saying, "I am the way to life! I am the example."

Jesus was looking for followers, people to live life in the way he was living, a way that leads away from fear and into a brighter life, more full of love.

And...somehow...I got all this from my two puptons. May they keep teaching me how to live and how to love each day.

I'll end with the prayer of a dog owner: "God, make me the person my dog thinks I am."