Baptized in a Fishpond

I’ve been gone more than usual lately working with Dani at her workshop. We’re out of the house at 7:30 am and home around 2:30pm. Though not long hours for the average worker, they are plenty long for a puppy’s bladder. To compensate for Ecclesi having to be in his crate all night and much of the day, I try to give him a treat each evening by taking him out for a spin. Yesterday we drove around town doing errands that only required a drive thru window and today we went to a nearby wildlife preserve. It proved to be doused with excitement.

Winding my way down the rough gravel road, we stopped at a beautiful fishing pond. The water was smooth as glass offering a double view of the sky and tree line set before us. After parking the car I let Ecclesi out to run free and then proceeded to coax Dani to do the same. Since she had grumbled and complained over the fact we'd left the house in the first place, I wasn’t surprised when she refused to get out. Perched in the car as if on strike, I left her door open so she could watch Ecclesi have his fun.

Skimming the ground like an industrial vacuum, he sniffed every stick, rock, tree, and bush. Then he found the pond! Approaching the water’s edge with cautious delight, he vigorously pawed at the water causing huge droplets to fly in the air. Discovering this massive amount of water had proven to be an unexpected joy and he was quick to bask in this dog's hog heaven.

Patting the water with increasing force, suddenly, as if the floor of the pond had dropped out from under him, he disappeared under water. Afraid to stray too far from Dani, I stood half way between the car and the pond with my eyes and mouth opened as wide as they could go. “Oh God. Help him surface! He’s only seven months old. He’s never had to swim before!” I’d always heard dogs automatically know how to swim, but could it be my little Ecclesiastes had been born without the DNA to swim? No one could know, but I was about to find out.

About the time it took for me to process these thoughts, my little sugar cookie with two chocolate chip eyes and a big prune nose immerged from the abyss. Paddling for his life, he swam in one tidy circle then straightened his course and headed for shore. After promptly unloading the excess water from his coat, he resumed vacuuming the land, no worse for the wear.

I think I witnessed a baptism today. Ecclesi was completely immersed in water and experienced a bit of heaven, I called on the name of the Lord as I watched, and we all left with big smiles on our faces! (Thank goodness for leather seats.)

Visit Nancy's Website: Olive Leaf Ministries