Spiritual Formation

OLD DOGS KNOW

My patients were animals for 35 years or so. After my first 10 to 15 years of veterinary practice, I started to pick up on the attitude shift as my canine patients went from puppy, to middle age, to the elder years-most of these human companions and trained human helpers became more of what they were as youngsters.

Being a veterinarian in farm-ranch country gave me the opportunity to watch these changes in the working dogs in their environments around the pastures and pens. and variors breeds of livestock The old ones usually were tolerant of the younger ones up to a point, and then they either ‘schooled them’ and/or then let them have their position in the pack when their years dictated so. The old ones more and more looked off in the distance where they seemed to be staring at something only they could see. Their need to ‘put out’ became less and less, but they showed up for their new play of either approving of the youngsters or maybe unconditional taleration- only they knew.

Now in my aging years as a human, I find myself less natural at detachment from production( putting out) than my canine buddies, but I get a breath of fresh air every-time I succeed at letting go and looking inward at looking way off. .Seems you don’t have to teach old dogs this new trick, it’s us humans who have trouble with detachment from production. I’ll continue to practice till I get it.

Once the mind has run its natural course to a finite end, the Heart is the only option home. Once tangible, trust in the declination of this Compass in the Present moment is experienced.

Then one senses this is the one Compass directing all, and no mental understsnding is desired.

Heaven on earth is then experienced.

Our friend was laid to rest in the dry land he loved and cared for in his birthplace.

He was from the land of big hearted folk, they listen more than talk, they know the value of space and water-one in abundance the other in scarcity.

He was intimate with the large cats that roam West Texas and Mexico-he knew their goings and coming-birthings and deaths. He knew by sight near 40-a rarity.

He respected their ‘lionness’, because they do what lions do-always.

May you rest in ground you loved, our friend. Till then….

Thank you H.M. Class of 1974

The external signs of autumn are usually obvious— brilliant colors, and or grey hairs around snouts. The internal shifts to wisdom and or ‘stuck-ness’ are less obvious, but indicators to be noticed even the more.

Once death leaves the realm of the theoretical, one starts the walk toward seeing his/her own death intimately.

All living share in this great expanse……be it known or unknown…

There is a spectrum, circle of sorts, where She is either seen as something to dominate or something you fit in.

Oh friend,

You. Made me lovingly,

Put me in a dress of skin and blood.

Then planted deep inside me

A seed from Your heart.

You turned the whole world

Into a sanctuary where You are

The only One.

‘Rumi’s little Book of the Heart’

M. Mafi, A. Kolin