“God appears to us disguised as our life.”

“You Say it is a sin that I love the dog above all else?  The dog stayed with e in the storm, the man, not even in the wind.”  St. Francis

When you read the title of this what did you think?  I’m betting it was something like, “He’s going to share about falling in love with a woman.  Spare me.”  That’s logical, but incorrect.  A reminder of the snare of making assumptions.  The Lady that I’m referring to is a dog.  That’s right, a dog.

Now if you know me at all, this may come as a surprise.  I’m not a dog lover.  Don’t get me wrong, I have a great appreciation for dogs as companions, just not in the same way that many others do.  I grew up on a farm, and animals were kept outside.  They were viewed from a utilitarian perspective, as in what benefit could they contribute?  Cows were raised for milk and meat, pigs for pork, chickens for eggs, cats for catching mice, and dogs for chasing off other dogs and strangers.  Therefore my affinity for the farm animals was purely practical.

We never had house pets.  I tried a hamster once—it escaped of course.  And coerced my parents into letting me try sleeping with my new puppy.  It lasted one night, as the next morning the bed was covered in little puppy tootsie rolls.  So admittedly, I’m no St. Francis.  I’m not enamored with dogs, cats, or other animals as close companions, but as stated, I do appreciate them.  Monday morning I gained even a greater appreciation, as I had what I consider a divine encounter with one, named Lady.

Mondays are traditionally hard days for me, and probably half the rest of the world.  This past Monday was especially difficult, as I was navigating the challenges of quitting my job.  I was dreading going into the office.  Plus, I had to be there by 7 a.m.  I’ve been walking to work in a feeble attempt to fend off the inevitable winter weight gain.  I had just left my house, my mood mirroring the dark and cold, when up ahead of me on the sidewalk I saw a person standing in the ambient light from the streetlamp, holding onto a leash upon which a dog was tethered.  As I approached, intending to step off the sidewalk to avoid them, the person said, “Would you mind saying hi to my dog?  She would appreciate it, as she usually doesn’t like strangers, but she stopped for you.” 

I was a bit taken aback, but readily accepted the invitation.  I may have hesitated or even refused if the dog had been a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or Pit bull.  But this was a beautiful Golden Retriever, known for its passivity and one of my favorites.  I gently patted the dog’s head.  “What is its name?”  I asked.  “Lady”, the woman responded.  I couldn’t have been more surprised, as my oldest daughter’s family has a Golden Retriever that is also named Lady.  I shared that information with the woman, to which she replied, “Well, that explains why Lady wanted to greet you.  She sensed you were a friend.”  At that moment I recognized this serendipitous occasion as being a God encounter.  Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous, and arranging seemingly random pieces of our lives to remind us that God is present, even and especially in the smallest, seemingly most insignificant events.

I asked the woman’s name.  “Mary”, she replied.  Of course it was!  For a brief moment was exchanged the positive love and energy that was emanating from Lady, whom God was, I have no doubt, using to make my Monday just a bit better.  I gave Lady one more pet, this time with much more affection, and walked away.  Quickly processing the encounter, I was compelled to turn around and share with Mary my perspective.  And then I thanked her for allowing Lady, and God, to use her to shed light on my day.

Had that been the end of the story, it would’ve been more than enough.  But here’s the kicker, later Monday afternoon I was walking home, and in almost the same exact place where I had encountered Lady, there were two Golden Retrievers with their owner.  As I passed them, I smiled at their owner, and then at them.  I’m pretty sure that they smiled back.

God comes to us disguised as our life.  Perhaps the question is, will we recognize God when God appears?  Even and especially if it is as a dog named Lady?