A LITTLE DOG LED

                              A LITTLE DOG LED


The fire broke out in the early afternoon starting in the downstairs apartment.  Firefighters arrived on the scene, lights flashing and sirens wailing.  All of this compounded by the flames, smoke and confusion, drove the Cardigan Corgi named Galahad through the line of men and equipment, running into the woods.  When Jack arrived home some 20 minutes later, it was to a bleak welcome. The downstairs apartment was a total loss and his best friend and companion of 10 years was gone.

When my phone rang the next morning all I could do was listen as Jack emotional and sobbing told me of the previous days events.  I listened as he told me of his all night search which had just ended in frustration. I listened and felt his pain and fear that Galahad was hurt or maybe even...he couldn't finish.  As I hung up the phone my mind was racing.  Where to begin, how far had the little dog run, what if I found him dead on the side of the road?  How could I than take him home to Jack?

The drive over took about 30 minutes and during that time I kept asking myself how could this happen to someone like Jack.  He was one of the most giving people I knew.  Besides being a minister to a small but growing congregation, he always gave of himself, his time, counseling troubled individuals, working with the handicapped and just making problems disappear.  Almost everyone he met became a part of his "extended family" but it was Galahad who kept him going.  Galahad who was there at the end of everyday with a ball to be thrown or just to lay his head on Jacks' knee and shower his friend with silent adoration.

I spent all of that day looking for Galahad.  Down every main highway and back road within a 20 mile radius.  I continued until dark, stopped by to see Jack then started home.

I was angry.  Angry at myself for not finding the dog and angry at God for letting this happen.  Suddenly I heard myself shouting, "how could you let this happen, how could you hurt Jack like this, what is it a test"?  "A test to see if Jack will lose his faith"?  I pounded on the steering wheel and immediately heard the words, "No, Jack won't lose faith, but you have".  I was stunned.  I continued my drive in silence, replaying those words over and over.  I thought back to earlier that day when Jack had told me that he believed things happened for a reason.  "We may not always see the purpose right away, but we trust God to show us".  I had listened to him but refused to accept it.  I could find no conceivable reason for the separation of these two friends.  But there it was, suddenly so clear.

My faith in God had been slipping for some time and now I felt that I knew why he had "spoken" to me.  Hearing those words made me realize that with God nothing was impossible.  Restoring my faith or even leading a little dog home safely.

When my phone rang early the next morning, I knew who it was.  Galahad had come walking down the driveway at daybreak, a bit tired, hungry and dirty, but home.  I smiled, hung up the phone and whispered "thank you".