I guess I should preface every Cigar Story with what I’m smoking. While it comes as no surprise - it’s a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Reserve. When you buy sticks by the box, you’re kind of locked in. But it’s my everyday, go-to smoke and I love it. I brought out a Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown, just in case I want two this evening. I have some Monte Cristo Platinums and White Labels coming soon, so I’ll switch it up. Basil Haydens Manhattans accompany this evening’s smoke.
I’ve always been partial to Golden Retrievers. Loyal. Loving. A beautiful dog. Their one goal in life is to be pet by you, shortly after placing a slobbery tennis ball in your lap, of course. Golden Retrievers embody joy.
First it was Ginger. Then Jessie James, the Outlaw Dog. Then Super Cooper the Wonder Dog. Having to say goodbye to each loyal friend left a golden retriever-sized hole in our hearts. When it was Coop’s time, a wonderful lady from Home to Heaven came to our house and helped him pass.
Cooper crossed the rainbow bridge laying on his favorite blanket under his favorite tree. The sun was on his face, but it wasn’t too hot, just the way he liked it. That was September 2018 and I still cry as I write this. They are part of your family.
It hurt. Bad. And I was done. No more dogs. No more dog spots in my yard. No more poop. No more expensive food and boarding bills when we went away for a weekend or vacation. No more hair. Everywhere. We were vacuuming up Cooper two years after he left us. Nope. “The James’ are now a dog free household,” I declared with all the bravado of the King of His Castle laying down the law in his home.
Ya, right.
Fast forward just a couple of years. It’s May of 2020. COVID year. I have enough stress trying to keep Polis from locking down Weld County. It was a big unknown. But as I sit at the dinner table contemplating how to keep Lord Polis and his lock downs out of my county, my wife and son are both on their phones looking at puppies.
NO DOGS! “But DAD, look at this one. Isn’t it cute!” No, Jack, no dogs. “Honey, look at that precious face!” Julie – NO.
Well. It is cute. Are there any goldens? No? Then no dogs.
We picked up Bella, a mixed-breed mutt, the Saturday before Father’s Day of 2020. Not a golden. A common garden variety hound. At least I put my foot down. Isn’t she homely…
At least I don’t allow her on the furniture.
Bella-Boo, as those who actually think she’s a precious angel, like to call her, is no golden retriever. She’s really dumb as a box of rocks. “Bella – come!” No. “Bella – sit.” Not a chance. “Bella – stay.” Are you talkin’ to me?! You stay, human. I’m going to make a break for it when you open the front door and make you chase me all over the damn neighborhood. Now this is a fun game – far better than you thinking I’m actually gonna fetch that ball!
Bella is no golden. She has a naturally bobbed “half-tail” that she sticks straight up in the air as she walks away from you, allowing the scene of her departure to express the way she feels about the silly humans and their stupid commands.
While a golden begs for your attention, Bella won’t give you the time of day. Until, of course, you don’t have time to give her the time of day. Then she comes rushing up from behind and runs between your legs, somehow leaving her hair all over your suit pants.
Goldens live to please you. Bella is far too busy for such nonsense. She has squirrels to chase. Flower beds to dig up. Sprinkler systems to eat. She’s very busy. Far too busy for you. But after four years of observing this hound I co-habitate with, I’ve come to think that we humans can learn a thing or two from this mutt.
She thinks in a very binary fashion. Good and bad. Chasing squirrels. Good. Squirrels uncaught in your trees. Bad. Bites. Good. The human eating the last piece of cheese without so much as a nibble. Bad. I should bite him. Sleeping on the bed. Good. The man sleeping in my spot. Bad.
And then there is the sun. The sun is good. Bella knows the exact spots in the house to lay down at the exact times of day so she can bask in the sun. Here’s a recent pic of Bella and her sun-seeking prowess.
Yes, we should do the same. Pursue that which is good. Bark at, bite, and run away from that which is bad. Inherently, we know what is good and what is bad. I believe that to be the Holy Spirit. That internal, moral compass that we all have comes from the One who made us.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Romans 5:6-11 NLT
Yup, Bella knows that which is good. So do we. And just as Bella seeks the sun because the sun is good, so should we seek the Son. Because the Son is good.
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