‘Dog Days’ of summer is a phrase
Coined from old Roman and Greek lore,
About July through August days,
Filled with superstition galore,
When human body, mind and soul
Was at the mercy of the heat.
All sorts of ills could take their toll.
From year to year ‘twould just repeat
Such disasters from ‘dog days’ bite.
But not a dog of puppy kind,
But the dog star bright in the night
Was human matter over mind.
‘Twas Orion’s dog, Sirius,
At its brightest causing such fuss.
-Irma Ryan
The Dog Days of summer might technically be over, but every once in a while at this time of year we get a particularly hot day that reminds us of those days in July and early August.
I’ve been thinking a lot about “dog days” the past couple of weeks. I’ve been thinking about how I don’t do particularly well in the heat—it makes me feel weak and listless. But I’ve also been thinking about how dogs handle the heat. How they lay themselves out long and wide and pant. How they seek the shelter of the shade. How, even in the midst of these long, hot days, they never stop trusting their master to care for them.
On Sunday morning we will be considering how we can be more like our furry friends when the “dog days” of our lives stop us in our tracks, when we are put to the fire and we have a choice about what we will do and whether we will trust God to see us through.
On Sunday we will be holding a Blessing of the Animals and hope that everyone one will come out to enjoy God’s good creation in the form of sun and wind and the pets we hold most dear. We invite you to bring a chair and join us in the parking lot for this special service.
Also, we will be holding a time of remembrance for our dear pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge. You are welcome to bring pictures of your pets of years passed, and we will have index cards available for you to write their names on so we can lift them up during that time of remembrance.
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Nadia
Scripture for Sunday: Matthew 6:25-33
