Dealing with squirrels

There were five houses of religion in a small town: A Presbyterian Church, A Baptist Church, A Methodist Church, A Catholic Church, and A Jewish Synagogue.  Each was overrun with squirrels.

One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels.  After much prayer and consideration they determined that the squirrels were pre-destined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will.

In the Baptist Church the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week.

The Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creatures. So, they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.

The Catholic Church decided to baptize the squirrels and registered them as parishioners. Now they only see them on Christmas, and Easter.

But the Jewish Synagogue took the cake.  It seems they took one squirrel, had a short service called circumcision, and they haven't seen a squirrel on the property since.

Lycos

Lycos is a one of my main leaders.  I had had him tethered just inside the gate from the back yard to the dog lot.  That meant he was fed first, loaded first, and got attention every time I entered or left the dog lot. 

Lycos injured his foot several weeks ago and is laid off until next fall.    But being laid off, I had to move him to the puppy pen every time I ran the team to get the other dogs past him.  After a week of that I finally moved him down between Dash and Ginger, into a bigger, more comfortable house with a post tether rather than a stump so it moves easier.

Last week I decided to move Lycos to the back yard to run loose with Java and Dijon (cousins) and to bring him into the house for company.  He seemed to enjoy it and be settling in well. 

A couple of nights ago we had a big windstorm.  The next morning I open the back door to feed.  Java and Dijon were right there as usual, but not Lycos.  Now what?  Put Java and Dijon in the kitchen.  Call Lycos – nothing.  Check the gate to the back yard – it’s closed.  I pray he isn’t hurt or trapped somewhere.  Walk out and call him again and he answers – from his old house! 

The wind blew the gate from the back yard to the dog lot open and Lycos is standing on top of his old house looking at me.  That silly dog would rather be tethered where he had lived for years rather than run loose in the back yard and come into the house – to the point where he didn’t even leave for breakfast.

My next thought, as I face foreclosure and possible bankruptcy, is that I might be doing the same thing.  Clinging to the comfortable known where we have lived for 18 years, rather than take a chance that God has something better in store on the other side of this storm.  Food for thought, eh? 

Keep 'em Northbound

Eric