God spelt backwards is Dog
I have only ever experienced unconditional love with my pets, it is easy to do so; unquestioning loyalty, continuous happiness, unfailing companionship. Sometimes I wonder who I would have become if I had never had the privilege of experiencing it. Who would we all become if we did not share this love with a species other than our own?
4 Days ago my little boy, Ferris was rushed to the hospital after a 2 week illness. That night he was diagnosed with chronic liver failure prognosis not good. I didn’t cry because I refused to consider a reality where he wasn’t with me. He had a biopsy this morning and still the prognosis isn’t good, I still refuse to believe it. I have friends practising reiki, I have scoured the net for alternative remedies, I have even prayed (strange how we non-religious types tend to fall back on that one).
And through this whole nightmare I can’t help feeling grateful that I am in a position to care for him financially. A while back I was in another animal hospital where a well-off looking couple where pleading with the vet to lower their high bills as they could not afford it. So this is how I see it.
We lack responsibility
We have domesticated trillions of animals and have not protected them. We have domesticated the earth and not respected her. We have domesticated women, children and men and not protected them.
In our blind rush to experience our selves and push our heads above those of others we have turned our eyes to what makes us great – our ability to love.
I know the vast majority of us have to turn a blind eye merely to keep our hearts in tact. But the last month of my life has taught me some profound lessons. I tried to live my life through telling others of a better way of living. I tried to change the world by telling it how wrong it all was. I was also blind. I also got lost in the maelstrom of survival.
But it has always been love. If I can love my pets, if I can love those in my life, if I can expand that love just a little bit to those who I share my world with – I can change it, I can keep my heart open, I don’t have to lift my head above but rather be grateful for those around me.
On the way back from the hospital I saw a young man, probably around 17yrs old, walking the streets barefoot, torn shorts, torn shirt… but with a sense of hope and purpose upon his face. I drove past him and felt sadness. And then I turned around and drove to find him. I gave him R200. His pure joy at the unexpected gift, of the simple act of kindness brought tears to my eyes where the thought of loosing Ferris didn’t.
Because… because that is all there is
I love you my baby, the world will be a poorer place without you so keep me rich
