Earlier this week, the most famous dog show in the world took place – the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York City. This is the 149th showing of this prestigious event and it just seems to keep getting better and better. The statistics are amazing – 209 different breeds are represented and more than 3000 individual dogs have traveled from around the world to participate in this grand show. And each dog is represented by owners, trainers, handlers, groomers and a host of others in each entourage to tip the odds in their favor.
Janet and I have enjoyed watching the show each year since we were first married. In fact, the Westminster has been televised since 1948; before we were even born. Throughout the years, we have pulled for whatever breed we have had at the time… It’s kind of like watching the Miss America pageant. You always want your state to win!
When I was young, Dad and Mom got us a chocolate miniature poodle from a very well known kennel south of Chicago. They had been to Westminster and other prestigious shows. I remember the trophies and ribbons lining the walls when we visited their operation to finally settle on Colbert, the puppy we eventually went home with. In a strange twist of fate, I actually stopped by the kennel several years ago and was met by the elderly lady who now owns the place. When she was a teenager, she was the one who actually groomed Colby back in the mid 1960’s – yes, she called me Bruce, my Dad’s name – but it was clear that she had the right family. I know I have a strong resemblance to Dad. How time flies! It was great too reconnect with her!
When Janet and I married, we started out with Border Collies, and eventually regular Collies. So we went through our Poodle and Collie years; and even a 16 year stint with Beau, a Bichon Frise, but finally took a keen interest in the show when we started to rescue Doberman Pinschers and I sat on the board of the local Humane Society. That went on for years – raising funds for rescues and playing Santa at Christmas for family pictures with their beloved pets. Those were fun times.
We were involved with Dobermans for almost 30 years and really grew to be quite knowledgeable about them. Janet and I both believe that they are some of the most beautiful dogs that God ever created. But, alas, our last Dobie, Hank, died last summer as a result of what is called DCM (dilated cardio myopathy), a terminal heart condition that Hank finally succumbed to almost two years after being diagnosed.
I really thought we were out of the dog phase of our lives, after more than 51 years of being involved. But a funny thing happened around Thanksgiving… we were made aware of a special puppy that was available to the right family. We know that we are really too old to be dealing with Dobes any longer, especially with some of the health challenges that Janet and I deal with. We just couldn’t find peace about what to do – or what breed of dog to look for.
Well, as sometimes happens, I guess I would say that the right dog found us. It may well have been divine intervention. Eva, an English Black Labrador, was six months old; she was bred and raised in upstate New York. The product of a Westminster Kennel Club family history, we were unfamiliar with English Labs but we decided to take a look. Of course, she was perfect for us. Having already had more than four months of training, it was easier on Janet and me to add another family member who already had a head start with learning commands and what would be expected of her. She was a great choice for us at the time.
Clearly, this year, we were following the Labs in the Westminster show, even going so far as to see the breed competition Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. online. Eva’s father came from a kennel that received seven invites to appear at Westminster. But the best of breed this year was from the west suburban side of Indianapolis. Eva’s family came in second…
What really boggles my mind is the fact that God created so many different breeds as well as all the mixed breed examples we have throughout the world. And dogs are just one of the more than millions of types of animals that God created. Why did God do this? Wouldn’t a few different kinds of animals suffice? Well, theologians, including folks from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization, think that it represents the awesome power and magnificence of our Lord. And the complexity of our world clearly shows that random chance didn’t get us to where we are today. You could spend your entire life studying one type of animal and you would still have countless numbers of others to investigate – your quest for knowledge would never end.
Our verse for tonight pays homage to the God of the universe who had the imagination, foresight and ability to create EVERY living thing – under the water, on the land and in the air above us. Solomon, the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, tells us, in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” I think Solomon made an understatement here. The awesome nature of God and all that He has created should absolutely generate a sense of wonder in us that is beyond our human comprehension. And God isn’t done with His work… we never know where God will perform His next miracle.
My encouragement is that God gave us a sense of wonder and expects us to use it in studying His Creation. My prayer is that we will always be amazed by the world around us and the unbelievable number of creatures that inhabit it. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…