You may remember the newsletter article we
did a few weeks ago, Postponing
the Inevitable. It
was about my brother’s dog, Lakota. Today, as I write this, the
"inevitable" has happened and Lakota has passed into the
world of Spirit.
John Cali
My brother Paul called me this morning to let me know he and his
wife Judy had to put Lakota down. She was at the point of no return
to good health, and was suffering. So they did the
"inevitable." Needless to say, they were both feeling a
lot sad emotions.
I was almost as close to Lakota as Paul and Judy, having known
her since she was a beautiful, bouncing puppy nearly 17 years ago.
When I talked to Paul this morning, I felt a rush and depth of
emotion I never thought I’d feel when the "inevitable"
happened.
I’d written about a nearly identical experience, but with my
sister’s dog, in my book, Dogs:
Heart-Warming, Soul-Stirring Stories of Our Canine Companions.
I don’t fear death, nor do I believe it’s the end of us,
whether "us" is human or animal. We go on forever, as
Chief Joseph often says. But we still feel that flood of deep
emotions when we lose the physical presence of those we love.
Here’s Chief Joseph.
Chief Joseph
Animals, especially dogs, are often your teachers. They have
little to learn from you. But you have much to learn from them.
If there is one major lesson dogs have to teach you, it is
this: Live in the moment! And this: Love unconditionally.
Your dogs find joy, passion, and pleasure in every moment of
their physical lives. Even when they appear to you to be suffering
from some physical illness or injury.
The difference between dogs and humans is dogs are uninhibited.
They know who they are. All they want to do is simply be who they
are. Nothing more, nothing less.
And so in their naturally uninhibited, unlimited being, they
radiate an energy, love, and joy that can touch even the most
hardened human hearts.
That’s all that matters -- living every moment of your lives
with joy and love. And positively affecting, even changing, all
those around you. You will then be a force to be reckoned with.
Dogs have no fear of illness or death. And, more importantly,
they have no fear of life. They immerse themselves in all the
pleasures of physical existence. And they do it without hesitation
and without guilt.
They are fully alive in every moment. Their intent is to simply
live freely and joyously. Not a bad role model for you to follow!
They see little difference between life and death.
No matter how awful (or peaceful) their transition from life to
death appears to you, those transitions are always easy and
effortless to them.
And when they arrive "on the other side," they continue
their joyful, exuberant, and happy lives, romping and playing with
abandon.
They often return to visit you. As do your human loved ones. But
most of you are not open to that happening for you.
When you do not believe, you cannot see. You often say,
"When I see it, I’ll believe it." But it’s always the
other way around -- when you believe it, you’ll see it.
It’s all a matter of vibration. If you believe, you vibrate in
a positive way. And then you open the "doorway" to those
beings who, on the "other side," are vibrating at that
same high level.
You never lose those you love. If you remain open to them,
"alive" or "dead," you will always be comforted
by them. You will feel their presence, their energy.
And you will know you are loved.
P.S. Tuning In is a brand-new spiritual
movie featuring some of today's prominent channels and their spirit
guides, including Chief Joseph and me. It will be released September
2, exactly one week from today. Get
more information here.
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