Tacoma, WA 98465
“It’s meant to be” – a phrase we use with impunity about so much of our lives, but perhaps there is more behind it?
Two years ago, my beloved dog Murphy died of old age. I mourned his loss but was not ready to replace him. Time passed and family, friends and even neighbors kept reminding me that I still had an empty spot in my life that I should consider filling with a new pet. I started visiting the Humane Society here in Pierce County and watching local online adoption sites but could not bring myself to take the final step of adopting a new companion (I even dog sat for a beloved member of our St. Andrews community and loved every moment of having Kulu visit). Then three weeks ago, while sharing dinner with several friends who all had pets in their lives, I stumbled on an adoptable dog that in previous times I would have passed over. But this time, I stopped, read all the information about this dog, and decided to submit an adoption form. I kept reminding myself I wasn’t committing myself to adopting, but each step felt right (and a bit scary too). Step by step I spoke with a volunteer from the rescue society, and not one but two foster moms. The rescue society interviewed my vet, and I was asked to submit photos of my completely fenced back yard. They were incredibly thorough. Suddenly I wasn’t considering the dog I had applied for but another one of the same breeds, one that would have to come up from Texas where she was being rescued and fostered! Yikes, I started to feel stressed. Waking up in the middle of the night I lay quietly and thought about this new journey I was contemplating, and asked myself what I was waiting for. I realized that the inner voice I was hearing was saying it was time… “this was meant to be.” The following morning, I approved the adoption, and now I have Nana, a beautiful, young rescue roommate – a Great Pyrenees dog (a breed I’ve never had before) and she’s fit into my life so seamlessly. All around me people are sharing their experiences of living with a Pyr and exclaiming about my new friend.
Over these past months, as Father Tom has shared scripture with us, a message I have heard repeatedly from him is that we need to open our hearts and minds to God and hear what is being said, because God’s guiding hand is there for each of us if only, we pay attention and listen. While adopting a dog may not be an earth-shattering event in the scheme of things, it came while I had lots of summer plans in place and your vestry was being asked to vote on Father Paul’s candidacy as our new pastor. I’d read all the documentation our Search Committee provided, and listened to several of his sermons, and finally and personally I took note of the fact that Father Paul was currently the dean at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis. Well, it so happens that I had just visited St. Mark’s Cathedral the previous week while I was spending time with my sister-in-law in Minneapolis. And the significance of this visit? Well, 53 years ago I was married in St. Mark’s Cathedral, and it holds a very special place in my heart.
So, as your vestry voted to invite Father Paul and his family to join us, I asked myself “Is this meant to be?” I just know I’m trying to do a better job of listening to God’s voice in my life and that takes a bit of practice. So…. I started by adopting a new dog, my new friend Nana. (I have lots more photos if you’d like to see them!)