Kindred Spirits

I waited 15 years for Max. I planned and prepared for the arrival of my Golden Doodle puppy. I read every book and watched endless episodes of Dog Whisperer in anticipation of my pet-therapy dog in-training.
As a Pastoral Counselor and Therapist who works with survivors of trauma, I have come to know the power of Relationship. The power in the Relationship with oneself, with others and with the Divine.
Max is to be part of that process of connecting and healing. He is to rest at my feet while we sit and hold the pain of another. He is to gently rise and intuitively know when to rest his head on a bent knee. He will heal with his presence.
I watch this furry ball of energy race across the yard chasing a squirrel or jump at a butterfly and I laugh. For with all of my lofty ideas of Max's gifts, he is still a puppy. A muddy, panting, drooling puppy who finds pleasure in raising his leg to my Rosemary bush and squatting in my labyrinth.
And yet, somewhere in this reality lies an authentic truth that IS comforting and healing. A cold nose greeting me in the morning or a warm body warming my feet.
Some say that animals are our earthly companions. Dossey (1999) believes that between all living beings exists a connection which he calls the nonlocal mind and this connection has potential to have a positive or negative impact on the other’s health. Manes (1984) adds that to ignore this need to connect with all living creatures causes harm to our thoughts, imagination, and creativity (14). Mane (1997) questions the impact of urbanization and exclusion of nature from our culture on our spiritual lives. He contends that by not honoring this innate need to connect (with animals) we have ignored a path to “truly deep religious experiences” (34).
Schoen (2001) views the human-animal connection as encompassing not only greater health but also reaching into a mystical, magical or metaphysical realm. Further, he contends, “I don’t believe that the connection between humans and animals can be boiled down to simple neurophysiology or neuroanatomy (156). What is the role that animals play in human life?
What do you think? Do you have a story?