Friends and loyal readers. Fellow Okie Trads and Beyond. Lovers of right reason and civility. I shift gears to talk today about the passing of our dog Snowy, recently. She was a ten year old Japanese Spitz and died of cancer.
I say "passing" because her "material soul" passed back to the elements, the night I had to bury her asap because of decomposition setting in, despite the torrential downpour of rain that Okie evening. Like all created things, as St. Thomas says, "we all come from God, and ultimately return to God."
Of course like most dog owners who lose their member of the family, there is the rightfully lingering spiritual or religious question as to the ultimate fate of your dog. A dog who was more similar to a human being than most any animal on Earth. When in fact for centuries canines have artificially evolved, that is been bred, to be genetically linked and dependent upon us Homo Sapiens, and at least culturally we have become intimately linked to them.
"Man's best friend."
Snowy was the sort of dog you really love for how close an animal can be, at least materially and accidentally, to God. She was loyal, innocent as a dove, constantly obedient, almost never a trouble. She had eyes like that of an angel, the wonder and curiosity of a child, the heartfelt daily devotion, and the kind of creative, literally awesome playfulness that God intended for us human beings.
Everywhere we went with Snowy, people stopped to pet her and admire her for her all white fluffy coat, her constant smile, and her innocence. The unique kind of innocence predestined not for us human beings who possess free will, but the kind of innocence God intends for his lower creatures.
We've had two dogs since we were married. Snowy a white Japanese Spitz, who I call the "perpetual puppy" even 'til the day she died, and Peanut a black Dauchshund. We've joked how somehow Snowy was more my wife's dog, i.e. more attached to her, while Peanut is more my dog, going with me on hiking and fishing trips, and running around town. She loves her doggie pillow in the back seat and "cho-chos" from Chinese drive-ins.
I call Peanut my "Backpacking Buddy," because she goes with me on solo backpacking trips into the deep woods and cuddles with me on my side of the bed. But both dogs truth be told, by default and not by choice, were, are, LIKE children.
So the loss of Snowy was hard for us all here in our household. She will be missed. And if my personal theological opinion should perchance end up being correct, then if we make it through the Pearly Gates, we should hope to see Snowy on the other side.
Syllogism:
a) God is all powerful.
b) He has the power to re-materialize pets in heaven.
c) Scripture says God will in the end grant our desires, if we are saved.
d) Well, I desire Snowy to be reconstituted in heaven, or by whatever metaphysical mechanism God chooses. to use.
e) So if by God's grace I make it to heavenly glory I desire her to be there.
f) Therefore....if God is true to His Word (He is), then Snowy will be wagging her tail, smiling, waiting for a cuddle when I should enter my eternal reward.
God willing.
Such is my syllogism. Take it or leave it.
Which brings me to how Snowy died...
Mother Mary's Intervention:
On the night she died, she was laying on her bed on the living room. We were praying the rosary. We knew she was sick, but weren't praying as if she was about to die. We were just praying our nightly rosary, including intentions Snowy would "pull through."
Around the 4th Mystery, I glanced at Snowy and her respiratory rate was extraordinarily high. Imagine a dog literally breathing as fast as she can. In that moment she actually looked somewhat at peace. Suddenly, the first time in a day or two, she stood up and walked like a happy dog over to her mamma. But fatigued to the point she collapsed.
I was reminded at that moment of the time my childhood dog died, suddenly getting up to walk like she was trying to get away.
My wife picked up Snowy and put her back on her doggy bed. As soon as we finished the 5th mystery, and prayed for the "traditional intentions of the Supreme Pontiff" (when a family prays the rosary and prays for the Popes's intentions [even a wicked pope hell bent on overturning the Church] they help release a poor soul from purgatory via the plenary indulgence), at that very moment Snowy's eyes started to glaze over.
Her breathing became very, very shallow and labored. We went to her side to finish the rosary, caressing her sweetly created little head. This little creature God gave to us to comfort our family this last decade. A minute or two later she breathed her last. And I can testify such a dramatic observation is life changing. You see face to face the raw truth of Death.
Dust though art to dust though shall returneth.
Friends, the point isn't really that Snowy is in heaven. It is that God in His own nature, and all His Creation, in so far as His Providence directs our lives within that Creation, has and continues to use the material goodness, beauty, and truth of His creatures to comfort us, build up a Christian family life and society, ultimately as an aide for our salvation.
Snowy, we will always miss you and remember your blessed memory. In the end, the fact we happened to be saying the family rosary minutes before your death, after a long life of ten years, is proof that Our Lady--and therefore Our Lord--was with you.
And with us.
Kindly share with others. It's almost the weekend!
