Where I live, each of the four seasons presents beautiful testimony to the glory of creation.
It is now approaching mid-Autumn. Oak leaves, golden brown, brilliant red, glowing yellow, and all the hues in between, are beginning to flutter down into the yard and garden. The trees are refocusing their energy on the next seasonal phase of their lives. God’s creation has an energized liveliness even when branches become bare, anticipating winter’s cold. Life endures.
A little over twelve years ago, we decided, after some discernment, to take on the responsibility of getting a puppy. There were reasons in favor and against beginning this adventure. Some of the reasons against became apparent only after we had the puppy in the house!
Nonetheless, Maggie, the puppy, grew to be a seventy-pound yellow Labrador Retriever with an energy level that we never anticipated. We had grandkids in the house every day back then, and between the grandkids and the dog, it was a flurry of fun and fur.
Maggie was our ever-present companion for more than a decade. Her energy level eventually diminished to match our own, and she kept our retirement reasonably active. She grew up with the grandkids. She faithfully got us out of the chair to take her outside. When over those years, our parents went home to God, Maggie’s simple devotion consoled us. I don’t know if dogs can give sympathy, but it seems so.
Traditionally in November, the Church remembers “those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith,” (First Eucharistic Prayer). I have found that as I advance in age, the list of people whom I have known who have “gone before” gets longer. Our faith conviction is that at death, “life is changed, not ended” (Roman Missal).
I believe that God’s creation is an energized liveliness, that death transitions the “souls of the faithful” into God’s loving – living – eternity.
During our earthly lives, I think we get glimpses of this eternal love – occasions of great blessing. I believe the people we love are such blessings. (Maybe yellow labs are too.)
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,” (Wisdom 3:1a)
“and the faithful shall abide with him in love:” (Wisdom 3:9b)
God calls us to hope in life eternal. For whom will you and your family pray?