Our dogs

Psalm 32

We have two dogs, Ernest and Windermere. You can guarantee that if there is a rustling sound it is Ernest emptying a shopping bag to unwrap our dinner or overturning a waste-paper basket to dig out a used tissue, dissect it and distribute the remains throughout the room. Let Ern into the garden and he has his patrol route. First he checks the compost heap for new arrivals though he does monitor our going in and out with the compost pot then he climbs the back of the cliff and checks the length of the fence, stopping especially at the cat gap. At the far end he ventures down to just above the cliff edge and then makes his way back to the steps. This is followed by an excursion to the front garden. He finishes his tour with a return  to the compost heal for a snack.

Now Windermere is completely trustworthy inside the house, all shopping bags waste-paper baskets and their contents are safe. Full ones are left untouched and empty ones are not checked for possible edible contents. But the garden is a different matter. If not attended Windermere will either make straight for the gap under the fence made by the neighbour's cats or investigate a way through the hedge to the rabbit on the other side. He has been know to be attached to a leash and still dig a way through to the rabbit.

Ernest uses his freedom wisely. He knows the boundaries within which he should stay. He is therefore trusted out by himself to wander as much as he likes and where he likes within our garden. I like to think that the freedom that God gives us is similar and hope I use it wisely too, not trying to test the boundaries.