Weaving Heavenly Hills

We are going to the lovely mountains of Asheville for an Agility Trial this weekend. Honeybun has done one trial thus far, and did very well, but only did a "jumpers" class. All she had to negotiate were jumps and tunnels. This weekend she will also do the "standard" class- where she will have to jump, tunnel, go up and down a pivoting "teeter", up and down a 9 foot A-frame, "pause" and lie down on command on a low table, and finally (drum roll), weave in and out of a series of 12 poles entering from the right and not skipping any.... the dreaded weaves.

While even for most dogs this feat is daunting, it is particularly amazing for Honeybun. For the one or two people on the planet that don't know the story of Honeybun, my book is hopefully going to be published soon (the famous "soon" of a few blogs ago which is defined as "somewhere between now and eternity.")

We found Honeybun on a roadside, nearly dead of starvation and recent motherhood, not to mention tick infestation. We didn't want another dog, but apparently God had other plans and wanted to introduce us in a dramatic way to the world of animal rescue. Upon recovering her health, Honeybun became vicious, first trying to kill our other dog Lucky, and then determined to kill any visitor who dared ring the doorbell. Despite desperately wanting to get out of this impossible situation, I was stuck by a stinging conscience that kept insisting even this discarded, vicious, money-pit of a dumped mongrel had value in God's eyes and I could not send her off to Animal Control and certain death. And then Hollow Creek Farm found me. Hollow Creek Farm was created on the 8th day, a little known fact that the Bible neglects to mention. As soon as God saw what a mess we humans were doing with our job of overseeing the animals He put in our care, He saw the need for Hollow Creek Farm(HCF). HCF came for several months to help teach me that not only does every dog deserve a chance, but the ones that are extended such grace often surprise you with blessings far beyond what you could imagine.

Not only was Honeybun completely healed and rehabilitated, but she is now training and competing in Agility trials, off leash, dogs and peoples surrounding her, and she follows the directions of a 12 year old, Asherel, to do all those crazy things I listed in the first paragraph.

I hope she does well. I hope she manages to weave the 12 weave poles perfectly, though she has never done them perfectly on the first try at practice....

However, both Asherel and I know that every day that passes with this little dog who is now Lucky's best friend, and who greets everyone with a wagging tail is a miracle. And maybe the biggest miracle is the lesson that nothing God creates is junk. It all has value, and a purpose, and whatever we do for the least of us, we do for Him.

Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.