LESSONS FROM A MUTT
Steve Harris
April 1, 1987
It happened one Sunday morning in my previous church, and I didn't notice it until I began to preach. A dog had joined the worship service. What I earlier thought to be a hungry tummy turned out to be an authentic growl from a scruffy, black-and-white mutt pacing near the rear of our colonial sanctuary. His leash led to a thin, dark-haired woman-a stranger-who, like her dog, seemed vaguely uncomfortable.
That made three of us.
She must be blind, and that's her seeing-eye dog, I surmised. Then I saw her reading the bulletin.
When the dog persisted in yipping, the congregation began to fidget, and I realized I had only seconds to consider my options. I could try a little humor ("Is my preaching going to the dogs?"); I could boldly instruct the ushers to remove the beast; or I could get on with preaching and hope he didn't bite anyone before the benediction.
I took option three. I preached with one eye on my notes and one eye on the dog. As my sermon wore on, I grew increasingly angry. Why has this woman brought her dog to church? And where are those ushers? It didn't help matters when, halfway through my sermon, I glanced back and saw our little friend curled up asleep. I certainly didn't need more of that!
After a quick benediction, I hurried through the crowd to find our two visitors, but they had slipped out a side door. In my haste, I brushed past Hazel, a meek, gray-haired deaconess, who motioned that she had an urgent message. When she got me aside, she whispered, "Did you see the dog in church today?"
"Why, yes I did, Hazel, and I'd like to know exactly why it was there."
"It's rather complicated, but let me try to explain."
I nodded, and Hazel began to talk-quietly, slowly, with a sadness that puzzled me. She said she had ...
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