by
Steve Chapman

 There is a story of a small monkey who, on a cold winter day, escaped from the organ grinder he belonged to. He made his way to a house, and perching on a window sill, looked in and saw a warm fie in the fireplace. 

Somehow, he made his way into the house, sat down in front of that fire, and raised his little paws to it.

Sadly, the little monkey froze to death anyway, because the fire he hoped  would warm him was not real, it was just a painted illustration on the fireplace screen

 So I ask this question of me, and of you;

 Will those who come to us, cold, lonely, misunderstood, judged and hurting find the warmth of a real fire for their heart, or the cold, lonely ending of losing hope?

 The day I saw Sundance, 8 weeks old, having been picked up, lost, on a lonely road, and now locked in a big, overwhelming and cold cage at the animal shelter, I knew, instantly, I would take him into my home and heart, no question

 It did not matter that he was a pit bull pup, indeed it was what helped me understand his need, because like him, I was strong, and needed protection from my own power, or possible traits I did not understand. And for him, I was commited to prove his qualities and gifts far exceeded any real or imagined challenges he could bring.

 Being told the shelter, having an unwritten policy of not adopting out pit bulls, I am so grateful, that because they knew "my house", we were given this beautiful animal.

 And Sundance, in the year he was here with us, and on God's behalf, changed my life.

His life, his lessons and his love, even the horrible incident he endured which ended his life as I watched, helplessly, running to him from a brief instant of my distraction and poor judgement, have changed my life, forever.

 I know see God in all is creation,

 Sundance's face, my dolphin friends in Florida ( Pax and Jax), the tulip on Easter morning I didn't plant and on the wings of the hawks (known as messengers of Great Spirit to me and my native american friends)

 I see God in the birds, and all the color he paints my world with.

 I see God in the faces of my children, your children, my wife, my brother, and in all life.

 I feel God in his acceptance of me, and in the love of those who know me and choose to see in me, first and foremost, all thats right , while seeing my faults, last and least.

And because of the mercy of God, and his son, the man who hung on "spikes", not nails, they were 5-7 inch "spikes!", I will live on the new earth, with Sundance, forever.

 For them, I will build an maintain a fire to help.

 For those you love, what will they find as they sit at your fire?

 from blog.foreversundance

copyright/stevechapman 2009