I am a doggie aunt to my friend's greyhound, Jake and am currently dog-sitting through the weekend. Jake is an alluring, beautiful, peaceful creature and attracts people to him like a magnet. He is a gentle, friendly soul and will also simply walk himself up to people and forge a connection.
This morning, I took him for a walk and headed over to the Coffee Bean in my neighborhood for some quiet reading time to kick off my day. As we walked up the stairs to the patio, Jake immediately made a beeline for a woman sitting by herself drinking her coffee and texting. You could tell that she was a lover of animals and she immediately took to Jake. A huge smile came over her face as she reached out to pet him. The woman was a Grammy and Golden Globe winning songwriter. She and I struck up a conversation and then Jake and I were on our way.
As I was sitting on the patio, three other people came over to pet Jake and as he connected with them, so did I. Then, while sitting there reading my book, sipping my drink and peacefully being in my morning with Jake at my feet, I suddenly took a whiff of something horrible. A homeless man had sat down next to me and the smell was repulsive. I became agitated, annoyed that my quiet time had been interrupted and I wanted to immediately get up and leave as to not have to smell this man any longer.
I was uncomfortable and planning my quick departure when Jake got up and went over to the man sitting next to me, smelled him and looked him right in the eye. The man was taken aback, drawn into Jake and a huge smile came over his face as he reached out to pet him...and Jake responded by simply letting him in. I observed this interaction and how the man responded to this kindness and affection. His whole being changed.
What struck me was my canine friend's lack of discrimination. His willingness to connect with everyone from an award winning songwriter to a down on his luck street person. No judgements, just sheer love and affection.
I got up to leave, and as I walked away, i felt this profound sadness wash over me and tears welled up in my eyes. Because what also struck me, were my own limitations and where my own judgements and options prevent me from seeing the humanity and God in others. Where I stop myself from opening my heart and letting others in. Where I actively block connection and intimacy.
What a profound moment...a God moment...a powerful lesson learned from (or through) a dog. What I'm left with is the opportunity of this awakening experience. I starting asking myself these questions. Where else in my life do I limit myself? Where and with whom do I only allow myself to go so far and to get so close...to let people in only so far...to open my heart only so much...to only allow for so much intimacy...to control and limit just how much of me I allow access to. Where does my own fear and my own humanity inhibit me from expressing my profound love for people or become a barrier to love being fully present and expressed in my presence?
I also saw that fear...really being present to it, experiencing it and being with it in the moment, IS the access to love. In that moment choice is present. I could choose fear and everything that comes with it or choose love and everything that comes with that.
Luis my wise Batista at Coffee Bean said to me this morning as he gave me my drink, " You now have your coffee, the rest of the day is up to you and the universe."
What a huge gift the universe sent my way this morning. It has left me in the inquiry of what might be possible if I chose love.
Had me in tears to start the morning. Choose LOVE !!
Posted by: Lori Samolsky | 08/09/2011 at 08:52 AM