About a week ago, Comet and I welcomed a new friend into the house. Comet had been getting a bit lonely, and after a few inquiries and meet-and-greets and applications, Shadow came to us.
He’s a rescue who was in a foster home, for longer than they had expected, with no discernable reason for the extended foster. But they loved him, and when Comet and I met him, it was a natural fit.
While the transition has been really smooth, it’s still a transition; there’s new patterns to develop, new areas for him to explore, new understandings of rules and boundaries, etc.
The right dog finds you at the right time.
I also believe that we encounter the right people at the right time.
I believe that God puts people in our path, and there’s the opportunity to learn and grow from these encounters.
Some folks may become long term friends and chosen family. Others may be short term associations. Some are situationally dependent. Others may be brief interactions that feel like chance.
Whatever they are, they are an opportunity for us to do the best we can. We can’t always know the impact we have on other people, but we can try our best.
We can avoid doing things that we know will be damaging; we can lean towards ways that build one another up. We can establish healthy parameters to minimise confusion or disrespect. We can collaborate towards justice and peace. We can advocate for those who are silenced or oppressed.
There’s lots we can do; but I think the main idea for me is to see each encounter as a learning opportunity: a chance to understand each encounter as being someone God has put in my path, and to do my best to do my best.
