SHARED HEARTS

The first thing I have to say is that I d not have a special relationship with animals.  Not dogs, not cats, not birds, not fish, not horses and of course, not cows.  Nevertheless, I receive all kinds of messages that anthropomorphize the behavior of animals,especially dogs and and cats.  I have made many an enemy over this topic.  I do not believe that dog is man's best friend.  I believe that human beings are the best friends of other human beings.  If a human being cannot find another human being to be a "best friend", then there is something wrong with the first human being.  In my world there is no need for "seeing-eye" dogs; for "house keeping chimpanzees" or for any other "animal companion" arrangements.  If you are blind, find a human to "see" for you;  if you are deaf, find a human to "hear for you; if you are mute, find a human to "speak" for you; if you are wheelchair bound, find a human to conduct you where you want to go.  As humans, we are called to help and support one another, not to direct one another to a lesser than human animal "guide."  Our United States culture has degenerated into one that points us in the direction of a government program that can support us.  Government programs are nothing more than animal support/companionship programs.  We substitute the dog for the unionized operative.  What ever happened to the loving family member?  To the dedicated, loving friend?  Think about it.

15 YEARS LATER, A CALL FOR HELP

So, what do you do?  You know what you do.  You find out what it's all about, that's what you do.  That's the fun part.  It turns out that this time it was actually enjoyable.  It started out with an email from a trusted friend that Mr. X was looking for me.  The statement that was written was, "I need his help."  So what else is new?  Wasn't it ever thus?  Why else does someone who is calling after such a long time want if it isn't to announce the death of a mutual friend or relative?  It therefore is always an adventure to pick up the telephone and delve into the happenings that provoked the call after a long deferred contact. That's what I did.  I picked up the telephone and called the individual in question. I was not disappointed.   The story that he wove meandered through many esoteric highways, through mysterious tunnels and bifurcated itself on some of the byways that sprung up in the telling.  After a while, it got down to the nitty-gritty and that's when it became very clear that there was not a thing that I could do to alleviate the pain that had entered into my friend's life.  In fact, it became very clear that the problem that he presented was nothing but a variation on a leitmotif that continued to be strummed after all these years.  I will call him again.  The adventure provides a diversion from the hum-drum routine of life at my age.  I continue to pray for him every day.  It is the only help that I can offer and deliver.  I thank God that we are once again in touch. It is one more soothing patch on the bruises that I carry on my soul.  Amen.