My Canine Messenger

Several years ago my next-door neighbor had a dog that they would put outside at night. My bedroom window looked out on their backyard, where he was fenced in. Several times a week the dog would start barking in the middle of the night and would continue to bark for hours. I would wake up and get angry, frustrated, and just plain ornery. Those nights would put me in a bad mood the next day, and I felt completely helpless.

One day I was telling someone that I love and respect about my situation and she suggested that the next time the dog woke me up I thank the dog. Thank him for reminding me to wake up - not from my night’s sleep, but from my soul’s slumber. This sounded kind of crazy to me, and I pretty much put it out of my mind.

That night, in the middle of the night, the dog started barking. I woke up and started getting angry. But in that moment, I must have decided that was not the way I wanted to live, because without really thinking about it I took a couple of breaths to calm myself, came into my heart, and thanked the dog. I thanked him for delivering spirit’s message that it was time for me to wake up and live my life the way my soul really desired.

Immediately, the dog stopped barking and I went back to sleep (physical sleep). I heard the dog barking on a couple more nights and when I was able to honestly thank him, he would stop. Some nights I didn’t give an honest “thank you” and he would just keep it up until I thanked him from my heart. Eventually, he stopped barking.

I have since moved from that apartment, but occasionally I will hear a neighbor’s dog bark. At those times, I feel my chest tighten with that old anger and frustration, then I remember that the dog is a messenger from spirit, reminding me to wake up.

Greg Lutz is a woodworker and community builder living in Royal Oak, MI. He can be contacted at gregl@healinggardenjounrnal.com