Iron Mountain ski jump

Iron Mountain ski jump

Monday, October 23, 2017

THE WITTENBERG BARK [M, 10-23-17]

I saw a Facebook post from a black dog. He said, “Some day that mail man is going to break in here and murder all of you. I’ll be like, HaHa, so who should stop barking and lie down now.”

My grand-dog, Ernie, a little black shapoo, is like that, and we can all take a lesson from him.

He is resolute in warning his family of danger, especially from the garbage guys and the UPS guy and anyone who has the temerity to walk by unconcernedly on the street.

For those good deeds, he is punished, especially if he is warning about some electrician or church lady who has already breached the barricades. He is put into the sin bin, his dog carrier, and banished to the nether regions.

This, however, does not deter him. As soon as he gains freedom, he takes up his post on the back of the sofa and rises up once again with his barkly cudgels against the injustices and dangers of random walkers and blowing leaves. He will not voluntarily abandon his post, even though the whole world be against him.

It is appropriate as we approach the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses on the Wittenberg Door that Ernie echoes that lasting call to freedom and justice: “Here I bark; I can do no otherwise.”

Yes, if we were all as resolute in our warnings, in the protection of those we love, as Ernie is…

JRMcF

johnrobertmcfarland@gmail.com

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