A Dog’s Persistence

Buddy, our Golden Retriever, and his Bear

You won’t normally find Buddy without his bear. He proudly prances around with his tail wagging, nudging our legs to let us know that he has the bear and isn’t that the best thing that could be happening at this moment?! Join me in my joy, he says. He won’t tolerate Jovie stealing his bear, which she often does. If she grabs it, he meanders over to take it back. The bear and Buddy are one.

Buddy also tries several times a day to take the bear outside. Knowing it’s not allowed, as I point down and say “drop it,” Buddy will sit prominently in front of the door as if he doesn’t hear me. His eyes give him away, though. He steals a glance at me and back to the door as if to say, I hear you but I’m choosing to ignore you. The bear and I would like to go outside so I can roll over it in the grass. There are smells to smell.

As I walk away without opening the door for Buddy and his bear, he eventually will drop it so that I will open the door. It’s the first thing he grabs when he comes back inside. That is, if Jovie hasn’t run over to steal it. 

I marvel at Buddy’s consistent and nonplussed attempt to take the bear outside every time. He doesn’t give up. Maybe this time, mommy will let us go outside together. And won’t that be fun?! I can’t wait.

I never thought I’d want to be like my dog in any way, except that I do. If I could walk through life without losing hope, with a short-term memory, presence in the now, and a penchant for being mischievous, my happiness level might go up a notch. Buddy isn’t afraid to take a risk if it means a few minutes outside with his bear. He will continue to persist in his belief that his bear belongs with him wherever he goes.

Maybe if I always brought something with me wherever I went. Or I insisted that I couldn’t go anywhere without it, like hope or a determination to see the good in others. Maybe it’s trust that God is present in this world even though all I can see is God’s absence. If I keep trying to pick it up and take it with me without fail, I might see the world and others a little differently.

There he sits with the bear in his mouth, believing this time he’ll be allowed to cross the threshold. One has to admire his doggedness.