Unconditional Love: Last Sunday, I dug out the old faded sweatshirt I wore the day we got our beloved Labradoodle Jack, so many years ago. I wore it to get Sam our nine-week old Aussiedoodle, now in his 7th day of home with us.

Those of you who have experienced/endured my preaching and writing...conversation, too...know something of the impact that big black galumphing dog made on our life.

Jack showed us so much about the unconditional love of God. We humans are much better at talking about such love than giving it. We’re not even very good at receiving it.

In the oddness of Godness, pets are free of our tongue tangle of words. They just show us that love. Plus, they amazingly draw such God implanted love out of the surliest of us. It continues to amaze me how folks, I experience as otherwise cranky/edgy, are often so loving with their pets.

Notice above, I said pets. I have been deservedly chastised a time or two by those who say I sell cat love short.

No question, there will always be a Jack shaped hole in my heart. In Dianne’s, too, but that’s her story to tell.

+ Non-Replacement Policy: Now about Sam. I considered a longer title: “Sam I Am, By Damn, Not Jack”. Please substitute ‘Darn’ if the stronger word is too strong. But it does mess up the rhyme.

Sam is a soft, furry ball of sheer kaboinging energy. He is mostly a cuddly, lovable Dr. Jekkle. But there continue bouncing, stubborn, teething nippy, wild Mr. Hyde moments.

So far, Sam is doing well on input – loves his food and water. In Hyde moments he gleefully splashes said water with his big webbed for water feet.

Good for us all, he seems to be a fast learn on output placement. His few accidents have been mom and dad timing errors.

Fingers crossed and grateful, crate issues don’t seem as insurmountable as the first couple of sleep-free nights.

He is bright, fast, funny: quite capable of being both exasperating and adorable. (Know some folks like that?)

Though Sam looks remarkably like Jack the puppy, we came to figure out when/if the time came for another dog in our lives, it would/could/should not be a replacement.

With both pets and people, no one replaces anyone. By the grace and mystery of God’s love: other pets and people create their own irreplaceable place in our lives.

Live long enough, the grief scars and holes on and in our hearts from our loves add up. Yet by grace, this creates capacity for more, not less, love. Recall that scar tissue is stronger, more resilient than what it replaces.

I am aware the Jack hole in my heart is among my many heart holes for cherished ones now in the Communion of Saints. I find I have, if willing to risk it, more, not less room for new placements.

This is a tribute to those who have loved us and we have loved. Also, this is an attribute of the quantum nature of God’s unconditional love in and through us.

Good news; not bad news: no one replaces anyone.

+ Puppy Love Adventures: This first week Dianne has made a multitude of trips to the University of Google for consults on crate training, potty training, toy rotation, nipping (sharp puppy teeth!), socialization tips and more.

Amazon and Hollywood Feed sales have significantly increased thanks to Sam D. Morgan.

We are booked at the vet for the trainer’s first available puppy consult with our lengthening question list.

Last night, we three had our best night sleep yet. So, a bit less sleep deprived, this morning, we delighted watching and playing with Sam, as he zoomed/bounced driveway laps and dewy flower bed sprints.

As I mentioned, this is the 7th day, actual Sabbath day, with Sam. With puppies we have relearned/remembered, there is not much initial Sabbath rest.

Further, puppy love, well, any love for both biped and quadruped critters just has a lot of pushups. The goose bump, sweet times are great. But the acts of love when the feelings of love are fatigued are what make it being loving and being loved amazing.

+ Heaven Hounds. Francis Thompson, 1859–1907, was an English poet, something of a mystic. He dropped out of medical school, and lived by menial jobs most of his life, with some success toward the end of his short 47 years. He struggled with the 19th century addiction du jour: opium.

In Thompson’s most famous poem, The Hound of Heaven, his image of God’s love is a hound that will not give up the chase and search for us. Some excerpts from its 180+ lines...

I fled Him down the nights and down the days:
I fled Him down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears and laughter
I hid from Him...
...Those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbed pace...
They beat...
Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at hand...
That Voice...
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest me."

Morgan rough paraphrase of the last line...
'You push love away from you, when you push away from Me.'

So, just maybe, God’s love pursues us even through our dogs and an occasional cat.