My dog "Lucky" (Kleenex reading zone)

It all started when I named her Lucky! Why did I choose that name? Looking back, I certain that my seven mature years of life could not have had anything to do with her tragic fall from grace.

I lived for three glorious years on the banks of the Snake River in Easter Oregon. Being about a quarter mile from the river, possessing my own fishing gear, spotted pony, and bow and arrow, I was destined for a famed life of adventure

Lucky learned fast, “sic’em” meant he was to run with all speed to his master’s pant leg and furiously hang on for dear life –what a fun game!

“Thank you Master Bruce for teaching me such a wondrous trick!”

Every summer my father, with the help of other “Zane Grey” types, would drive the “little doggies” (Old West lang. for "cattle") into the Snake River and force them to swim to a lush island for summer grazing. It was a Kodak moment as grown men brought their best horses and coolest hats and played “wild, wild west” again. This was to be the day Luck lost her luck.

The big cowpoke rode a magnificent Palomino stallion and when he saw my dog Lucky, he whistled my dog, with a shrill note of confidence, then tossed out that famous two syllable command, “sic’ em.”

With all the natural dog-obedience within her, Lucky raced over and took a healthy snip at the Palomino’s heels. Suddenly everyone was treated to a free rodeo show as Sir “Cowboy” hollered and hung on for a seven second free bucking-bronco ride –If that $10,000 video show had existed and camcorders had been invented I would have been a rich kid! I was laughing, Lucking was still attacking and no one noticed my father dismounting and reenacting a History Channel special of the “David and Goliath” fight! The big rock locked onto it’s target (my dad had a good arm) and little Lucky suddenly felt the incoming concussion against her head. Lucky let our a yelp and ran straight down to the river. She leapt in; swimming around and around in a mad circle for about five minutes. Lucky was never the same again. A couple of months later my father informed me Lucky had died of “lead poisoning.” Yes, I did cry for my tragic loss. It was several years later that I understood what lead poisoning meant.

There’s a favorite book title that has stuck in my head for a long time; it simply reads, “Hurt people Hurt people.” It's so true. I didn’t know how to train my little dog. My ignorance hurt Lucky.

“There is a way that seems right to a person . . .” says the wisest man who ever lived , “but the end is death..” (Proverbs 14:12) I’ve often thought, “every moment I’m free to choose 'my way.' ” But there is always a choice that if followed to its end will bring death. How many people have I hurt without even knowing it? How much can I trust the many choices “I think” are best?

So who’s got your back? Who’s your trainer? I sure hope it’s not me! My luck isn’t so good.

“We love because He first loved us!” I John 4:19