An Ode to a Canine Companion

 My Friend recently visited a college classmate.

The classmate’s dog died a few months earlier. There was a “marker” in the midst of the patio flower bed which read: “Sam’s Memorial Garden”. Below the marker was a placard with the message: “May the Joy & Happiness that Sam gave to “Many”, be shared, one to another, so that Sam’s Kindness & Love is his legacy to Humanity.”

That poignant placard is a vibrant paradox of a dog’s devotion to his companion, as opposed to man’s inhumanity to man. (I purposely avoided using the term “Sam’s Owner”, because the relationship between a man and his dog is not that of a “Master to a Slave”. A dog’s relationship to man is best described as unconditional love. It doesn’t matter what the man does or did, his dog will lie down beside him with concern and devotion.

That’s the Gospel message: “Love one another, as Christ has loved you.” (with the unconditional love of the Redemptive Cross.)

Ironically, many men return offense with vengeance, rather than turn the other cheek. For example, “Road Rage” has morphed from a honing horn, to “The Finger”, to a gun. Perhaps, the world would be a better place if we lived accordingly to the message in Sam’s Memorial Garden’:

“May the Joy & Happiness that Sam gave to “Many”,

Be shared, one to another, so that Sam’s Kindness & Love,

Is His legacy to Humanity.”

God help us all, if Sam’s message died with him.

Perhaps that’s why so many people ask: How much is that doggy in the window?

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