Ananias, our trustworthy ex-Mozambican worker, did two things today: he obediently dug a deep grave for Nella, our beloved and ailing Great Dane (who has been declared terminal by our vet), then he concocted a traditional aloe brew, which he had used on his flocks as a young goatherd and cowherd many years ago, and patiently handfed it to her.It is such an apt metaphor for our current situation. I used the same image to explain it to my mother: while we are indeed making preparations to sell this place, for which we had (have!) such wonderful dreams - and bury our vision, we are still prayerfully looking for a solution that may still save it.
We do not see the "burial plans" as a lack of faith, but a declaration before the Lord that we are willing to accept anything He brings across our path. Nor do we see our clinging to the dream (in the face of harsh economic realities) as foolhardiness, but as a form of prayer that the Lord will provide the best possible solution - even if it differs from ours.
We are not convinced that we can simply let go of this excellent dream yet.
And Nella is also still breathing...
Nella did not make it through the night. This morning we used the freshly dug grave to lay her to rest - and then planted a tree on the grave. A symbol of hope for the future of our dreams, even as we once again face the harsh realities of life. She was the seventh Great Dane we lost in so many years. One died of old age, the others of various pests. Nella's daughter died on the freeway in pursuit of a porcupine (in a weird combination of modern and ancient threats). Nella herself survived several encounters with the same porcupine, coming home festooned with quills. She survided (but a beloved spaniel did not) an attack by a cobra, and cat flu when she was still a baby. One New Year's Eve she fled the noise of fireworks and found refuge at the lonely shelter of a recluse artist (they made the newspaper - a good news story amidst the usual bad news).
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