I’d driven that same road several times during the week. Funny how you get in the habit of going somewhere and never really stopping to notice the things around you. There was one thing I did manage to see almost every day. There was a rather ragged man, with hair tossed about, riding a broken down, rickety old bike. He was accompanied by a strong, healthy looking Golden Retriever. The dog was leashed to the bike and the two seemed like old friends as they traveled the path into town. The weather never seemed an obstacle to either of them. Even on snowy days, I recall seeing the two of them, cutting through the white flakes on a quest of sorts.

In the summer months, there was a particular park bench where they stopped to rest. The man would unwrap his lunch and share it with his companion. The dog waited patiently for his portion.  His mouth began to salivate.  It was as if he could taste that sandwich before he even got some in his mouth. They were like two peas in a pod – always together – friends forever. There were days when the man walked the dog unleashed.  The pup would never go far from his master, except when the man threw a stick out ahead of him and his pal scurried to retrieve it and return it to his master’s side.  The scruffy looking fellow would pat him on the head and throw the stick again.

One day, I decided to park my car and get a closer look. There was no way of my knowing that the man was blind.  as I watched them interact, I soon figured it out.

The dog had shared his own eyes with those of his master. He’d carefully lead him where he needed to go, and the man would reward him with love and compassion. The man relied on the dog for guidance.  The dog trusted his master for love and friendship. All he asked was a little sustenance once in a while.

If I had let that whole story go unnoticed, I would’ve missed out on the treasure within.  We all need someone to rely on.  These two depended on each other and had a strong bond. We can depend on someone to help us when things are going bad, or we need a friend or confidante.  We have a straight line of communication to that One.  He invites us to be His own, because He loves us with an unconditional love.  Dogs seem to possess that same kind of love.  They’re forgiving, faithful, forget past mistakes, love us and bring us joy.  God loves us even more.  He never wanted man to be unhappy, anxious, lonely or desperate.

“Certain periods in history suddenly lift humanity to an observation point where a clear light falls upon a world previously dark. ”  Anne Sullivan