I’m still trying to figure it out. My black lab was sleeping by my chair in our front room. Suddenly she exploded. She was on all fours, intensely alert, hair on her back that would have made a Ridgeback proud. Fiercely she barked and ran to the back of the house. Wanting to know what this was about I accompanied her but without all the bluster. I saw nothing unusual. There was no disturbance of the fresh layer of snow. It was as smooth as if it had just landed. Then I saw it. A beautiful deer was standing at the edge of our woods. But how did she know? It had not been in the yard nor near the house. We had been in the front of the house with music playing.
It is obvious that she has enhanced senses of which I am totally ignorant. I wish I had thought of a Bible text but instead I could hear Hamlet saying, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” There are times that we are tempted to think the only things that exist are what we have seen or heard or felt. And then there are occasions like this when I am reminded of just how limited we are. There are times when walking with her that she has found something really great to smell. When I tell her it is time to go she looks at me as if to say, “Let’s linger. This is great. What’s wrong with you? Can’t you appreciate it?” Actually I am glad I can’t.
I was thinking of angels. I have never seen one. (At least that I know of.) Yet the Bible is very clear about their reality. See Hebrews 1:14.
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 31, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org