Bella Debut

Meet Bella, a Shitsu-Bijon Frise mix puppy. She joined the household of my niece and her husband a few weeks ago. Bella will be joined sometime in October by their first child,
a boy. I suspect that they will become fast friends.

The Dogged Dogwood

The view from my window as I work at my computer is a dogwood tree that has withstood the test of time. By rights this tree should not be alive, let alone looking so good.

Years ago my roommate's blue heeler mix was in the chewing stage of puppyhood when a wind storm filled the back yard with limbs. That the storm happened just before my father's death meant I had higher priorities than removing the limbs. Andy explored like any puppy his age and decided the limbs were the best chew toys ever. When the limbs disappeared from the yard, Andy went in search of living wood and chewed this young tree to a stump. It gave new meaning to "dogwood."

The tree recovered, growing into a nicely shaped tree, if a bit off-center at its base. Decades later, you'd never suspect it had survived such severe pruning.

A few years ago, falling limbs from another windstorm stripped it of most of its upper branches. This time I was sure it wasn't going to survive and do well. But in a couple of seasons it had so many little starts trying to branch back that I asked my bonsai expert friend to come over and see if he could shape it. He did, and today it looks very respectable.

This dogwood stands as a testimony to the resiliency of life. At times we may be reduced to a "stump" and our branches may not look so good, but with time we can stand tall. I'd like to think I'm as dogged in my determination to persevere as this dogwood tree.

What Do You Do?

A close friend betrays a confidence. Not once, but twice. And lies to you about it. Both times.
Your spouse betrays your relationship, and you can't save your marriage.
An elder counsels you with platitudes and then falters when he must walk in your shoes.
You couldn't land a job if your life depended on it, and it does.
The folks in your support group believe the worst about you and tell others the same.

There are times in life when the things that help hold you together give way. When the people you count on aren't to be counted on. When the things that support you don't any longer. When what you believe in becomes implausible. What do you do when the fabric of your life frays?

The answers are not to be found in those whose failings match your own, but in the power and faithfulness of God.