I Need to Brag on My Dog

I know that a lot of people who have dogs would say that theirs is the best dog in the world.  I am not going to debate that with folks but I do need to share about Scout yesterday and I’ll let you decide from there.  So yesterday was my last day of part 1 of my sabbatical time.  It was a beautiful (mostly) six weeks with the time in Acadia and responding to the muse speaking in my writing.  The last 7-10 days...well, I’ll let my previous posts speak to those.  Anyway...Scout and I headed out yesterday morning to our happy place of Rowe Woods and had a beautiful walk on a cool morning.  Because we were  on the East side of town I decided we would take some time to walk the labyrinth that was crafted using the memorial funds after my dear friend Lisa died.

So we arrived at Lisa’s Labyrinth and walked down to the entry to it and without any prompting from me, Scout just sat down where you see her in this photo.

I took a smooth stone from the entry and began to walk and pray while running the smooth rock around in my hand.  Each time I turned back toward the entry in the labyrinth I was surprised to see Scout just sitting there exactly as she had been when I started.  She wasn’t looking at me - just looking out and up away from the labyrinth.

As I reached the center and placed my stone on the rock at the center, I offered a variety of prayers for what I have experienced during the last six weeks - the beauty and restoration and the heartbreak and everything in between.

And as I stood up to begin my walk out of the labyrinth...Scout continued to simply sit there, looking out and up.

The guardian of my labyrinth walk?  Quite possibly. 

All I know is that she gave me an amazing gift of being able to walk and pray that beautiful and holy space without having to be concerned if she was eating a bunch of grass or needing to be corralled or anything.  That walk helped to clarify a lot of what I am going to share in my first Sunday back and a lot of it was due to Scout just giving me the space there.  It was a gift.  A friend once described Scout as a true contemplative.  I think she is definitely that.  And, while I’m biased, I think the most amazing doggo. I am also grateful for Lisa’s spirit in that place that also continues to speak.

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Here are a few other photos from the last few days unrelated to Scout and Lisa’s Labyrinth.

This leaf was so unusual the way that it looked like it was just balancing on the stem.  Was truly a “stop and take a second look” moment.

And then this - I am beginning to ponder whether the heron is my spirit animal because I love these birds so much.  (For those who know me, do a search on “Heron Spirit Animal” and let me know what you think on what you find).  I loved the way that it feels like the heron and its reflection are occupying two different worlds.

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And just a reminder once again...calendars are on sale!  Book is coming along!

Click here to purchase a calendar (or several)

Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed

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