This Is Why Dogs Are Our Best Friends
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure whether to put this post under the category “Good!” or to invent a new one called “Cute!” – because it certainly is that. But I also think there is something good and true about the interaction between this mama dog and a young boy with Down Syndrome.
His name is Hernán; the dog’s, Himalaya. They live in Buenos Aires, and the video was posted by Hernán’s mother, Ana, who writes in a comment to someone who set an edited version of this video to music:
Hernán, is a bit withdrawn and flees from physical contact. He does not like be touched, but Himalayan (the dog) insisted so patiently, and she was so soft that’s why it is so moving, she is left to do anything. I do not think that Dios commit errors, (God doesn’t make mistakes) everything happens for a reason. Best regards, Ana.
This is why we love dogs. They seek our company. They want to connect. In every way we can imagine, they seem to care about us. And when this dog keeps reaching out to little Hernán until he responds with a hug (around 3:10), it melts your heart.
My friend Andy Root, who I think is one of the finest theologians writing, has been reading and thinking a lot about dogs lately and is playing around with a project on dogs, us, God, and theology. When he started toying with the idea of writing a book that explored a “theology of the dog,” an editor (who had already published several of Andy’s books) said he thought Andy was a little crazy.
But I wonder. Andy’s point is that there is something special about dogs, that they have in many ways evolved with us, were bred in order to be our companions, and occupy a special places in our lives. Did you know, for instance – this from Andy – that dogs are the only species that seeks out other species for companionship; the only species other than us, that is. Dogs, in fact, actually prefer their human companions to other dogs. So why not a theology of the dog?
Why not, that is, give attention to how our theology does or doesn’t encompass our beloved pets, other animals, and much of the rest of creation. I think this is an important topic to explore and hope Andy continues his work (and has better luck finding a daring editor). I know that we when one of our beloved pets (a cat, by the way) died, one of the things I did with my daughter was read with her the ending of the book of Jonah. God is chiding Jonah for his concern regarding a plant that had given him shade and for his indifference to the fate of the more than a hundred thousand people living in Nineveh. But note just what God says to Jonah in the verses that close this story:
You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals? (Jonah 4:10-11).
A hundred thousand people…and also many animals. God cares about animals. And maybe so should we. This video reminds us of one reason why…and on the feast day of St. Francis – patron saint of animals – to boot!
Notes: If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video.
2) Currently we have two dogs and a cat. In years past, we’ve had way more cats. Just in case cat-lovers feel left out! 🙂
Another wonderful post! It is amazing what animals can do to reach our souls.
Have you seen this site? http://www.dogmatictheology.com/
I hadn’t. Thanks! And I’ll send it on to Andy as well.
God is dog spelled backwards. Now that is really being too cute.
This article is fairly timely as I was just having a conversation with a very good friend about taking my dog to work with me on Thurs. I am a Chaplain for a cluster of group homes in S.E. WI. I regularly visit homes where the residents have a variety of disabilities, some cognitive, some physical and some with mental illnesses.
I went to one house a couple weeks ago and cleared a room without saying a word. The program manager said the new chaplain is here, you’ve never seen 12-people in wheelchairs move so quickly to not be in the same room.
I went back to that house this week, took my dog with me and people were coming to meet Piper and talk to me about her. There were actual smiles on peoples faces when they were petting Piper and talking to me about her, I had several requests to bring her back again.
Please encourage your friend to move forward with his writing project on Dogs and Theology, maybe change the focus slightly to dogs and ministry. I’d be happy to talk to him about my experience as a chaplain who can take her dog to work with her.
I am struck by how this is like our relationship with God. God (the dog) keeps reaching out to touch us, always looking for a response — sometimes we respond and sometimes we back away. Sometimes God just waits patiently. Yet God keeps coming after us, even to the point of submission (on the cross) — the dog lying on its back. Sometimes a lick on the ear, a nibble on the fingers, or the paw of possession is exactly what we need.
Have you ever heard of/read the book Unsaid by Neil Abramson? It’s a novel, not about theology and not about God but about our relationships with animals. I read it in a couple of afternoons and recommend it.
Beautiful! Thank you!
That’s the type of video (and post) that makes your soul feel good! After too much Breaking Bad, it’s much needed. Thank you!
I’m guessing you’ve seen this video and/or read this book, but if not, it’s a goodie (and it’s short):
http://www.godanddog.org/