A Brief Lesson in Bubbles

Copious quantities of rain had fallen rapidly, creating a small mound of foam that slowly traveled down our back yard. Dutifully protecting his people from the dangerous threat, Max stood bravely outside in the rain, barking at the foam with all his might. It was an inspiring sight.

Max is still a puppy, albeit a big one at 63 pounds, and he has yet to experience many things. He didn’t understand the foam and reacted instinctively to what he perceived as a threat. Sometimes we are not so different.

Immediately after I was first diagnosed with cancer, I reacted in fear (see Facing the Unknown). I spent considerable time talking to the Lord about this, and He gave me peace.

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:5 (RSV), 6 (KJV)

Tonight I took a bath in our whirlpool tub. Guessing that Max might want to see what was going on, I left the door cracked open a little. As soon as the water started pouring, he rushed to the bathroom and examined the tub. He cocked his head back and forth, his ears up and his brow furrowed in a kind of cuteness that only dogs exhibit. He was interested by the growing pool of water and the faucet handles. He was startled when I turned the jets on, and he moved back a few feet. As I reassured him that everything was OK, he came a little closer, right until I put a couple drops of body wash in and the bubbles started forming. As the foam grew, he stood back. Max didn’t bark though, because I was in the midst and reassured him that everything was OK. I held some bubbles in my hand, he eyed them, and then approached warily. He touched them with his nose, and then licked them off. He backed off, but then came over and touched them again. He relaxed some, and toward the end of my bath I held some bubbles out to him and he licked them. Sometimes we are not so different.