Mystery

She opened the carrier and lifted him out. He was so limp and lifeless that she bent her ear to his chest to listen. There she heard the soft, quiet, rhythm of his heart beating. He whimpered as she gently stroked his dull, matted fur. He felt angular . . . bony . . . as if there was nothing left to him. She continued to stroke him with a cool damp cloth--wiping the grime from his lean body.

As his fevered body cooled he leaned into her touch and opened his eyes. Regarding her with emerald green eyes from a face of blue gray fur with the most perfect tar black nose he gently breathed in her scent and rubbed his head in her hand. She instantly fell in love with this tired old man and her heart was his.

Over the next days and weeks she coaxed him to drink and eat while holding him for hours at a time--willing him to choose to live. Slowly, he began to gain strength and respond. He slowly began to explore the home and while timid he began to show hesitant signs of acceptance.

His life was a mystery--a miracle of endurance. He had spent most of a week without food or water in a closed house with no respite from the 100-110 degree temperatures outside. Afraid and alone he had waited and waited for his person to come home . . . but he never did. He had searched for his canine companion who was also taken from his home the day his person fell from the bed, but could not find him. He had been left behind. His human, his canine both taken from him as their lives slowly drained from them as he watched--afraid and alone.

As he felt his own life slipping from him, a kind hand lifted him and took him to her. She and the man tended to his needs, placed cool water on his tongue, and food to fill the empty void that had once been his stomach. He was afraid, but their touch was gentle, loving, and coaxed him to choose to live.

The weeks and months that followed were not easy. Their home was full with others--people, animals both inside and out. Their rules were different, but they provided his needs . . . and more. He felt a tentative hope and accepted their love.

Almost a year later, he ran through the house, chasing his little brother, leaping onto the trunk, turning to box his sister--the canine pup who thought he should be her chew toy. Jumping from the trunk to the chair he kneaded his mom as he settled onto her lap. His little brother, leaped up as well, curling up beside him as they snuggled onto mom for a nap.

Her hands gently stroked his shining blue gray fur and he felt of the rough tongue of his brother grooming that hard to reach place between his ears. His body vibrated with the passion of his purr as he stared at his mom with his emerald green eyes. He had chosen to love again.

Life does not always treat us fairly. Things happen . . . good, bad, blessings, and tragedies. Sometimes we lose the things and people we love. The circumstances of life overwhelm and we find ourselves broken and bruised--too tired to go on. This is when we--the body of Christ are to step in . . . to be the cool, calming, loving hands that bring relief, healing, and hope into life again. Even in our darkest moments of life--God is ever present, breathing life, hope, and love into us once more.

Loving God, we so easily become lost in the miring circumstances of life. People, events, tragedies overwhelm us. Yet somewhere deep within us there is that tiny spark that recognizes your love. Help us to respond to your love--to turn toward your gentle, quiet, still speaking word. Help us also to be your touch, your word, your hope, your love. Help us to choose to love. So be it. Amen.

Happy 15th Birthday Mystery, our precious "old man." Thank you for teaching us how not to give up on and the power of love.