The Grace of Dogs

Today’s post is written by Pastor Jen.

If you were anywhere within half a mile of Trunk or Treat this weekend, or happen to be a Facebook friend, then you’ll know my latest big news: I brought home another foster puppy.

She is my youngest puppy yet, and I mean it when I say: she is giving me a run for it.

This little munchkin is three months old, and while our first few days went smoothly, Sunday morning and today have been some big tests.

The tests are two-fold: potty training and crate training. And I’ll spare you the details, but there have been moments when I feel like my house will never be clean and quiet again – and then of course it will, and that will be bittersweet.

We have had a couple of moments where I was pulling my hair out, and yelling, and (it was clear) freaking the puppy out. The puppy who, I firmly believe, is not trying to test my patience, but just really really good at it. And when I calmed down, I felt terrible about it. Terrible about losing my cool, and thinking this was about me, and just wanting her to understand and behave right now.

But the thing about dogs, which my trainer reminds me often, is that they live in the moment.

So just a few hours after giving up on getting her to go potty, roughly putting her in the crate, and leaving this puppy while I went to church, I returned to find her…fine.

Happy, wiggling, and utterly unconscious of what was weighing me down.

It’s a gift. A really, really big gift – especially as we get to know each other and work through the hardest parts of training. This little dog was in a shelter kennel just four days ago, and now she’s spending her days at my condo and in my neighborhood, playing with my dog, getting her meals at new and strange times, having multiple walks every day and being woken up in the dark of the night to go outside and pee. She’s so good at (almost) all of it. But when she’s not, and I can’t understand that…she lets it all go from one hour to the next.

An amazing example for those of us who are champion grudge-holders, who live frequently relitigating the past or worrying about the future.

In these days that are so anxious and upsetting, when hate crimes against both Israelis and Palestinians the world around are on the rise as a reaction to what’s happening in the Holy Land, when the war in Ukraine drags on and countless other conflicts don’t make the headlines but still boil up and over, it can be an enormous challenge to wake up and take the day as it comes. To be present where we are, and live in the moment, and try to accept the grace of each day. To let go and lay down what is past, and try to face the challenges of right now with as much grace and thoughtfulness and love as we can.

But that’s the call, I think. To remember that God’s mercies are indeed new every morning, and to trust in the One who made us to take us into that new day.

As I sit here, with another load of soiled towels in my laundry, with two exhausted dogs passed out next to me, with no idea what’s for dinner or when I’ll get another workout in…I’m going to try to do just that. To remember and to trust.

Prayers for Peace

(Our guest blogger is Rev. Denise Johnson)

For over 20 years I have served as one of our church representatives to the New Trier Multifaith Alliance. Originally known as the Winnetka Interfaith Council, the name changed several years ago to reflect inclusion of faith communities beyond the Winnetka borders. These communities have ebbed and flowed but have represented Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Bahá’í, Unitarian, Mormon, and Muslim traditions.

Begun in the 1960’s, this group sought to engender interfaith dialogue and cooperation, sponsoring community events on topics such as mental health, immigration, views of the sacred texts, and others. The capstone event is the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service offered to the community. Over the years our church has hosted several of these services as well as yearly participation from choir members. This year’s Thanksgiving Service will be on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints in Wilmette. All are welcome.

In August the group presented at the Parliament of the World Religions held here in Chicago. This world-wide gathering, attended by representatives from scores of religious beliefs, meets every few years and rotates among the continents. Chicago hosted the first conference in 1893. Even though we were scheduled for the final day, we had good attendance from groups seeking similar interfaith dialogue in their communities. Those who attended the opening ceremonies were moved by the spirit of unity and common purpose shared from all corners of the globe.

Coming off this inspiring conference, the recent events in the Middle East that have shaken us all are especially distressing. Following is a statement offered on behalf of the New Trier Multifaith Alliance to address the feeling of many in these trying days.

October 13, 2023 – NTMA Statement on Recent Events in Israel and Gaza

Together with people of good will everywhere, the New Trier Multifaith Alliance (NTMA) expresses dismay and profound sorrow over the carnage and destruction that has spread across Israel and Gaza. With heavy hearts, we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. We join communities of Faith–in our region and around the world–in condemning the disregard for fellow humans shown in the senseless acts of brutality committed by terrorists. We abhor every act of violence engendered by hatred and prejudice. We join civilized people of all religious persuasions in declaring that terrorism can never, for any reason, be justified.

We grow daily more concerned about the bloodshed and suffering among civilian populations on both sides of the conflict. It is our fervent hope that all parties will resolve to establish lasting peace and justice for all residents of a land sacred to them and to millions across the globe.

We ask our members to encourage respectful dialogue within and among our communities and to be reminded that sometimes misinformation is shared in social or mass media that is meant to divide us.

Peace be upon us all.

Prayers for Peace

(Our guest blogger is Rev. Denise Johnson)

For over 20 years I have served as one of our church representatives to the New Trier Multifaith Alliance. Originally known as the Winnetka Interfaith Council, the name changed several years ago to reflect inclusion of faith communities beyond the Winnetka borders. These communities have ebbed and flowed but have represented Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Bahá’í, Unitarian, Mormon, and Muslim traditions.

Begun in the 1960’s, this group sought to engender interfaith dialogue and cooperation, sponsoring community events on topics such as mental health, immigration, views of the sacred texts, and others. The capstone event is the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service offered to the community. Over the years our church has hosted several of these services as well as yearly participation from choir members. This year’s Thanksgiving Service will be on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints in Wilmette. All are welcome.

In August the group presented at the Parliament of the World Religions held here in Chicago. This world-wide gathering, attended by representatives from scores of religious beliefs, meets every few years and rotates among the continents. Chicago hosted the first conference in 1893. Even though we were scheduled for the final day, we had good attendance from groups seeking similar interfaith dialogue in their communities. Those who attended the opening ceremonies were moved by the spirit of unity and common purpose shared from all corners of the globe.

Coming off this inspiring conference, the recent events in the Middle East that have shaken us all are especially distressing. Following is a statement offered on behalf of the New Trier Multifaith Alliance to address the feeling of many in these trying days.

October 13, 2023 – NTMA Statement on Recent Events in Israel and Gaza

Together with people of good will everywhere, the New Trier Multifaith Alliance (NTMA) expresses dismay and profound sorrow over the carnage and destruction that has spread across Israel and Gaza. With heavy hearts, we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. We join communities of Faith–in our region and around the world–in condemning the disregard for fellow humans shown in the senseless acts of brutality committed by terrorists. We abhor every act of violence engendered by hatred and prejudice. We join civilized people of all religious persuasions in declaring that terrorism can never, for any reason, be justified.

We grow daily more concerned about the bloodshed and suffering among civilian populations on both sides of the conflict. It is our fervent hope that all parties will resolve to establish lasting peace and justice for all residents of a land sacred to them and to millions across the globe.

We ask our members to encourage respectful dialogue within and among our communities and to be reminded that sometimes misinformation is shared in social or mass media that is meant to divide us.

Peace be upon us all.