Answers to Prayers

 I don't know whose prayers the Lord was trying to answer in this fiasco, but I think he's done a fine job.

My beautiful, extra friendly, big, yellow lab ran a-fowl (yes, pun intended) of the law by chasing our neighbor's free-range chickens. 

The prophet said to forgive somebody by Easter, so I brought flowers and an "I'm sorry my dogs are such turds" note to our neighbors, hoping to forgive them and open communications between us. 

Their response suggested to me that Indy would be on their mud list no matter what. After some pondering and prayer, I was prompted to rehome him and even told who I should contact about it. The logic was there is no better alibi than being a state away. And then if he is the problem, the problem would be solved and if he wasn't the problem, he couldn't be credibly accused of the crime.

So this friend agreed to take my beautiful dog and add him to her pile of fur babies. We would do the long drive and drop on Saturday. Then today she actually called me (instead of texts we were exchanging) saying that her ex-boyfriend, just a county away, really wanted Indy, and wanted to meet him tonight.

It turns out he is a hunter and camper and had a great hunting dog (and daily companion) that passed away a few years ago, leaving him lonely for that kind of companionship.

He came right out, played with dog, started training him, and loved him right away. He was so excited when we allowed him to take Indy home tonight. Indy so needs that kind of work to do. He trains well and loves to be a companion. The guy was so excited he was hugging us and crying. 

Then, of course, he sent me texts showing the new dog bed in his room where Indy will sleep. I have never met someone so in need of a dog before.

The series of strings pulled and networks employed to pull this off is pretty impressive. The Lord care about this man so much he made a way to get him the dog he needs. May they honor and sustain each other.

We, of course, will always love Indy, and thank him for the light and slimy balls he always dropped on our laps.

Hope

 All this grey smoke seems quite apocalyptic to one who has never lived through or near a forest fire before. Add to that my knowledge of all the other stuff we humans of earth are putting each other through ... and I thought of apologizing to my son (who is just preparing to go off to college, studying meteorology) for bringing him into the world at this challenging time, some think the end of time, and then I rejected that idea:

He is here to do a job, he is uniquely suited to be what is needed in the world at this time, he will help save people. I am not supposed to feel sorry for the life he will never lead, but to cheer him and prepare him for the life he will lead. The kid has gumption, the kid has talent, and a will that never quits. He knows how to lead, how to build teams, how to study, how to adapt. 

If we are at the end game, we will need different, creative, thinkers and doers to take over.  The old game is over.