OLD DOGS DO NOT DIE

We have a secret, you and I,

That no one else shall know,

For who, but I can see you lie,

Each night, in fireglow?

And who but I can reach my hand

Before we go to bed,

And feel the living warmth of you

And touch your silken head?

And only I walk woodland paths,

And see, ahead of me,

Your small form racing wit the wind,

So young again, and free.

And only I can see you swim

In every brook I pass.

And, when I call, no one but I

Can see the bending grass.

Author Unknown

The Perfect Run

A man dies and goes towards the light. There is no pearly gate, no
rainbow bridge just an overwhelming presence. He falls face down and
cries out "God help me". It is a simple prayer he has often repeated
in time of stress. He was totally unprepared for what happened next.
A voice says "never fear my child I am here. I'll take a simple form
and we'll have a talk". The man was filled with peace and knew he had
met his Maker. He realized he was being helped to his feet. The man
that helped him to his feet had a radiance unlike anything he had seen
before. He became aware of the conversation covering his life,
beliefs, and why he should be admitted to heaven. God said he had one
last test.

The man had competed in agility and had always wanted one more run
with his favorite partner. God said he would grant one final run. A
perfect run and he and his dog would be granted access to heaven. A
failure and he would not be allowed in. The man said to God win or
lose thank you for one more run. The man looked in the crowd but could
not see his beloved partner. He asked God were he needed to go to find
his faithful teammate. God called the man to him and said to stare
into his eyes. Unbelievable peace and joy filled the man's soul. God
started to change into bright overpowering light. The man became aware
of a movement in the light. It grew and grew and there was his friend.
He was bowled just like so many times on earth. His face was being
licked, a tail beat his legs and a playful reunion was had.

There were several agility teams there that day. God was to be the
judge. The exhibitors walked the course and the man was to be the
third team to run. He watched the first team it was a beautiful start,
the team looked so perfect, he smiled at their teamwork, it was poetry
to watch. Then it happened, the handler took their eye off the dog and
it took an off course. "You idiot!" yelled the handler. "What were you
thinking"? A curtain covered the field and God voice could be heard
but not understood. When the curtain parted the previous team was
gone. God beckoned the next team to the line. This team looked even
better. Then a bar was knocked. The handler went to the dog and beat
it. The man wanted to go to the dog's aid but an icy stare from a near
by angel froze him in his tracks. The curtain quickly drew around the
ring. God's voice boomed and the ground trembled. When the curtain
parted the team was gone.

God motioned for the man to come to the line. A quick placement at the
line, one last scratch of the dog's ear, as was their ritual. The stay
was perfect the man smiled overjoyed for one last run and the gleam in
his old partner's eye. The man gave the command and released his dog.
The run was one of the rare one's. The connection so right, the
unexplainable feeling of being in harmony with your dog. Both the man
and the dog beamed. One last cross and they would be headed home. The
man realized in an instant he had moved to soon. "I'm sorry, that was
my fault." he said sheepishly. They finished in fine form but it was
not a clean run.

The curtain drew. God came over but before God could speak the man
fell to his knees. "I'm sorry it wasn't a perfect run but thank you
for one last run. It was so fun but I just blew that cross." "Please
don't punish my dog for my mistake he only did what I trained him to
do." God lifted the man to his feet. "You passed the test." God said
with a smile. "I don't understand." stammered the man. "It wasn't a
clean run." God answered. "I didn't say your dog wouldn't go to heaven
if you failed nor that the run had to be clean" The man answered "you
said it had to be perfect". God answered. "You see I said the run had
to be perfect, not clean. Up here there is a big difference. You see
nobody can run this course clean. The joy of the run, the connection
so close makes it impossible to run this course clean. That is part of
the test. Do you take responsibility for your mistake; do you treat
your dog, my gift of love to you, with respect? The perfect runs are
the runs where the handler takes responsibility for their mistakes and
allows the dog to make his. The dog doesn't care if the run is clean
they just want to have fun. You really passed the test before you ran.
You thanked me whether you won or lost. Also, don't think I didn't
notice you reacted when that other handle abused the dog. You have
shown great love. That was the test.

To me your run was a thing of beauty, your conduct even better." The
owner smiled. "May I have one request?" the man asked. God smiled and
said "I know you want to watch the other runs. If you look past the
ring you'll see your old ratty chair. I would love to have company
today." The man saw some stunning runs but also some crazy runs. Dogs
that did nothing but visit all the heavenly host. Dogs that knocked
every bar. Dogs that sailed over every contact. He smiled each time as
the curtain closed and watched God inform the handles that though not
clean they were still perfect. He realized he never saw another run
where the handler was mean. Every run he saw brought another team to
the sideline. Cheers arose and people rejoiced. It then dawned on the
man. He was no longer waiting to get to heaven, he was already there.
At the end of the runs the man said to God you must be pleased only
two teams failed. With a tear running down his face God said. "If only
that was true. Once you pass you only see those that pass" "But enough
of that we have a rainbow bridge to go visit: Some more of your
friends want to see you."

Author Unknown (I was unable to find the author of this great story.  If you know who wrote it, please contact me with that information so that I can officially ask permission to use the story and give credit.)