Leader of the Pack

It’s funny how dogs can teach us how to be human. My little dog Charlie, who died last summer, was the best dog who ever called me friend. From the time she was a puppy, she had a need to be by our side. She enjoyed lying on the couch or bed, when we let her, body to body with her family. We were her pack and I believe in her mind, we were to always belong together. I miss my little Charlie and all the joy she brought to my family.

Charlie understood what we humans are so soon to forget, that we belong in a pack. Charlie found her place and claimed us as her pack. We were not so much individuals to her as we were a family. Individuality is a wonderful thing, and as a somewhat reserved and solitude type of guy, I appreciate my individuality. At the same time, we were created, on the whole, to be social creatures, social in marriage, in family, extended and immediate, in work, and in our communities, again, both immediate and extended or global.

As our culture has shifted from group identity and belonging to lone wolf individuality and narcissistic resembling pride, we have in reality, lost part of who we are as human beings. And in this loss, we have evolved into a society that no longer knows his neighbor, into a society that is drawn by charismatic speech rather than proven integrity and honor. We so eagerly throw out the wisdom of our elders for the unproven gradiose self-fulfilling ideas of the unwise, when in reality, if we look back into history, the very similar if not same ideas and shallow hopes have often brought failure in a time our minds have forgotten and our history books have rewritten.

We have evolved into a culture who so easily can be fooled to walk away from those we love in the spirit of self discovery. It seems that we have not only lost our identity as individuals, as a society, of our values and morals, but we’ve also lost what little Charlie knew instinctively, that we are a pack, that what affects one affects the whole pack. This isn’t about who’s right or wrong, but more about what lies in the depth of our beings, to live, to love, to be the pack, and to take responsibility and ownership of who we are and what we do.

If we take the time to look at our dogs, they can teach us what love is, what loyalty is, what devotion is, and how to be committed to our pack. It’s not about being happy, as much as I enjoy being happy, but it’s much bigger. It’s about finding joy in the belonging of togetherness, when times are hard and when times are good. Let us find the peace and serenity we were born to have, on the surface of our knees, being who our Creator has designed us to be, loving and protecting our pack, guiding our pack into the reality of a Great God. Thanks Charlie, for the reminder of how to be human.


(The writings in this post are random thoughts and observations and are NEVER intended as professional or personal advice. Take what works and leave the rest. For information on mental health and/or substance abuse help, visit http://www.rodneyvalandra.com and refer to the links page.)

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