SERMON: "Lessons learned walking with Saxo."
There are many joys and blessings in having a dog. You are always welcomed with stormy wagging joy whether you have been out shopping or on vacation for 2 weeks. You are met by pleading brown dog eyes as the food is prepared, the table is set and dinner is served. You are nudged with a wet nose when someone needs attention or perhaps knows that you need comfort. You vacuum daily because dog hair seems to grow and gather in clusters. You wipe up water, when the dog's slumber in the bowl seems to get more water on the floor than in his mouth, or when it rarely rains and wet dog paws leave their mark. And you walk your dog.
I go for daily walks with Saxo.
Our dog is a nice big and friendly Golden Retriever named Saxo. Named after the early Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, with the hope that our Saxo would also remember what we have taught him and write it behind the ear as good behavior.
Saxo and I go for walks. Every day.
We walk on the sidewalks here in Yorba Linda and on the many beautiful trails. We like to go up in the rolling hills, or in the Carbon Canyon's beautiful valley of trees, lake, and shade. And occasionally along the beautiful shores of the Pacific Ocean.
We go for walks. And I can safely say that both Saxo and I love it!
Walking a dog is nice for the soul and body. You get exercise, you get fresh air in your lungs and you vent your thoughts. The soul gets nourishment from these walks.
I've thought a lot about what these walks in the neighborhood have taught me, or at least made me think about.
Both the positive and uplifting, but also always the negative and annoying.
So let me start with the dog leash and dog bags!
1.As a dog owner, you are equipped with very special equipment when you go for a walk: a dog leash and bags. The dog leash is to keep track of your dog and the bags are to clean up after you. Both things are built on consideration for one's neighbor and neighbor. Not everyone loves dogs, not everyone is comfortable with dogs, and not all dogs are friendly. So we show consideration and care for our neighbor by keeping our dog on a leash – even if we think that you have control over our dog. Not only is it a consideration for our fellow human beings and their right to walk without being afraid of dogs going astray, but it is also thoughtful of our dogs. When one is on a leash and another is free and exciting, there are almost always problems along the way. Like dogs, we as humans are also best off meeting equally and on the same terms. It is never good that one is on a leash while another runs freely. It is never good if one has respect for common consideration and respect, while others disregard and only think about MY freedom, MY right to do as I please. There are certain rules and regulations for being part of a community and society and also being a lady walking her dog!
Walking your dog is a nice image of how we meet as human beings in our society. I often think about that when I go for a walk. How we meet each other, how we respect each other, and how we communicate with each other. And I've been thinking about that even more in recent weeks when the walks are flanked by all the political posters and election signs and exhibited disagreements.
2. And then there are the bags! I simply don't understand why one makes the effort to bring the bags on the walk, pick up the leftovers, and then throw the bag on the side of the road! Again, it has something to do with respect and consideration: and an old truth and phrase: Clean up after you – your mother is not here! Clean up and think about others.
3. And then there's the traffic. The great danger when we go for a walk. Look to the right, look to the left we teach our children. And I've taught Saxo that: sit down at the traffic lights, wait until I've looked left and right, and once again, make eye contact with the driver who is about to make a right turn without an eye for the dog, and I. It can be dangerous indeed fatal to cross the road. You have to be vigilant. Dangerous road users are those who are not awake in traffic, those who overlook the walking, cycling, and running people, and those who are in such a hurry. The road users who wear blinders and who make these dangerous left and right turn. Isn't that also an image of how we meet as human beings in society?' With blinders on, with busyness, with dangerous left and right turns, which make it possible to meet in the middle?
4.Dog owners meet many on sidewalks and trails, and these encounters are nice and good. I enjoy that we always greet each other, nod, smile, and share comments about the weather, the dogs, and the day. It is good to meet in this way: equal, respectful and open, and curious. It is the most beautiful image of the unique open generous and curious American mind and attitude that I cherish so much. (I remember how my parents enjoyed their daily bike rides here in the neighborhood and were always so overwhelmed that they were seen, greeted, smiled at, and spoken to.) Sometimes I meet homeless people on the road. Poor, distressed, and often mentally ill people who do not walk the dog for fun or exercise, but who live along the road and walk on the road all day long. Most are timid and with discouraging glances, but are delighted when greeted with a smile or a greeting. To be seen. Others are angry and talking, yes shouting, and we become insecure, but yet, we must see them and greet them. Maybe we're the only one who sees them?
On walking trails, Saxo and I meet young and old, running and rollator walking, smiling and measured, happy and angry, known and unknown. We meet each other on the road and the middle path – and we all show and should show respect, kindness, and consideration on the middle road.
4.On my walks I have often thought about how we met each other. Most often open and curious, but also sometimes with fear, suspicion, or with prejudice. Listen again to today's gospel that speaks to us when there are sitting here in the church, voting in the election, meeting at the table, or walking our dogs:
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged for yourself; do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you. For the goal you are measuring with, you must be measured yourself. He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person lead a blind person? Won't they both fall into the ditch?
How do we meet each other? With trust and openness or with suspicion and fear. Are we blind when we meet each other because of indifference, mistrust, and fear?
I must admit that I show certain prejudices when I walk with Saxo. I'm not proud of it, but let me be honest. I don't like Pitbulls. I am afraid of them and do not trust them. I don't trust Rottweilers and German Shepherds either. So, when I go for a walk with Saxo and we meet a Pittbull, a Rottweiler, or a German Sphered, I hold Saxo on a shorter leash and close to my body, I walk to the side or ask Saxo to sit and wait at a good distance while Pitbull, Rottweiler or German Shepherd pass by.
It is my prejudice and my suspicion that colors my encounter with perhaps the sweetest Pittbull, the friendliest Rottweiler, and the well-behaved German Shepherd, but I see only my fear and my prejudice. And worst of all: I pass this prejudice on to Saxo. He can feel my reservations and my suspicions when he is not allowed to meet the dogs with wagging tails and sniffing snouts. I'm passing on my prejudices. I teach Saxo that some cannot be trusted, even though I do not base it on any evidence or truth. I let the suspicion, fear, and prejudice speak.
Is it not precisely if we are to be honest, the nature of suspicion and prejudice, that we entrench ourselves behind preconceived notions, inherited notions?
Yes, often we do not even realize that we have prejudice or suspicion, because it is so deep within us and because it is so difficult to shake off. Unfortunately, we pass on these prejudices, not only to our pets but to our loved ones: our children and grandchildren.
6. There are many thoughts when I go for a walk with Saxo. How do we meet someone else, how do we talk, how do we show respect and kindness? I meet a lot of people on the road and the trails talking – loudly, long and much. On the phone with a headset on, so everyone else can't help but hear. It can be very private conversations, it can be business negotiations, it can be heated arguments, or loving declarations of love.
But the problem with all these mobile conversations in the public space is that you shut yourself out of the public space and make a little private bubble around you. So you don't meet others on your way, but only those you have chosen to meet with by phone and distance. Thus, the meetings are only selective and limiting and, not surprisingly, planned.
You also disregard the silence or conversation of others, by loudly talking to others and indicating that I do not care about others, but it is my right, my conversation, and my presence that is most important.
So you don't see the nature around you at all, listen to the birds' song, see the smile or hear greetings from the stranger you meet, or feel joy at being greeted by a wagging tail and an expectant dog look. The constant presence on mobile and social media may connect us with others, but only those we choose and the surprising and unexpected and possible life-changing meetings are not left much time. The conversation between people who do not necessarily agree is silenced and becomes only a battle cry, politicization, and prejudice. But it is precisely in the free surprising and unplanned conversation that we learn and grow, meet, and mature.
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person lead a blind person? Won't they both fall into the ditch?
My walks with Saxo are my daily reminder to be present. To see my fellow human being whom I meet on the road and in life: to try to live with consideration and respect; to thwart my prejudices and mistrusts; to enjoy nature, silence, companionship, dog, and exercise. Being in the present moment and nourished by the present moment.
Grundtvig has written so beautifully and truthfully about this in the old song: "Give me a simple life." in 1939. This text was written on the occasion of Grundtvig's confirmation of his two boys: Svend and Johan. So, it's a beautiful parenting song for the growing generation about how to live when you step into the ranks of adults.
Give me a simple life, a merry heart,
And kings may keep their pomp and garments splendid.
Let me in a hut or mansion live the part
Of one from worthy ancestors descended.
With an eye for things above as God ordained,
Awake to greatness, goodness, truth, and beauty
Yet knowing well the yearnings unattained,
Through knowledge great achievement, deeds, and duty.
Give me a simple, secure, joyful, and active life on earth with respect for the history and insight of the olden days, and with equality in castle and hut, where you try to live in a society "where few have too much and less too little."
A simple and beautiful active life where we live as we are created: with respect for everything here, nature, each other, society, and families, but also with our eyes heaven-turned and wide awake for everything great and beautiful here on earth and with deep longings and dreams of love, hope, and faith.
I can sing Grundtvig and hum his lyrics on the walks with Saxo. About the simple, cheerful, and active life that we are all called to live: without judgment or prejudice, without suspicion or fear – but open, curious, rewarding, and embracing.
Then we can paint our days blue, red, yellow, and green and believe in everything even happiness itself. Amen.