My Dog Booger

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      I did not grow up with friendly dogs. The dog I first remember was “Booger”. He was not any particular breed and was sort of a compilation of all the bad traits of the most ornery breeds. He was not friendly, liked to chase cars, trucks, and trains, howled when the train came by, ate “Tony” dog food, and like some people are referred to as being a “man’s man,” he was a “dog’s dog”.
      There was no way to personify this dog. He was not made for indoor living, did not exhibit personable qualities, had no great desire to get along in this world, and resisted tender touch with a vengeance. I don’t think he ever bit anyone, but he had one of the most persuasive scowls you have ever seen. He could show his side teeth, bristle up the black hairs on his back, and turn sideways to you like he intended to open up a can of “dog-bite” on you at any minute. We gave Booger a big comfort zone and only seldom and out of necessity ventured across the DMZ for a quick pat on the head, rub on the back, or quick hug. His tail did not wag.
      The story goes that Booger, in spite of his anti-social tendencies, took great interest in the children: namely me and my sister. Evidently, when we were out playing he was always watching us, staying close by, being aware of our whereabouts and safety. I have seen pictures of us playing in the sandbox with Booger about 5 feet away watching us. It was believed he was making sure nothing happened to us. He was a protector of sorts. There is another theory that he may have been trying to figure out how he would eat us if he killed us. We have no proof this second theory is true for he never acted upon it and was always the perfect “gentle-dog” when we left him alone.
      However, Booger had one thing he did well. Whenever we would return home, in the dark of night, Booger would jump up from his sleeping place with a howling excitement and run all around the yard, down into the woods, all around the car, and around us until we made our way into the house. It is not surprising that we hardly ever took notice of the great drama since it was so exaggerated and noisy, but we would usually just ignore the antics and make our way into the house leaving Booger panting in the yard, finally making his way back to his sleeping location.
      We often said, (and this is the reason for his name), that Booger was chasing the “boogers” away from the house when he conducted these religious activities upon our return on dark evenings. Booger was making sure nothing would get us. He was behaving like a protector. We took it for granted and thought little about it.
      Since that time I have often longed for something that would chase the “boogers” away from my life. What would you give to be free from those baseless fears that keep you awake when you are supposed to be sleeping, those unsubstantiated worries that haunt your quest for success, doubts that hamper your belief, anxieties that possess far too much of your life, or particular moments you would live differently if given a second chance. How valuable would it be to have these consuming issues exorcised?
      I would like to be able to tell you “Booger can do it,” but I know Booger cannot. I also know incantations, concoctions, magic words, amulets, crystals, and magic elixirs cannot. I also wish a substance in an aerosol can could do it, but it cannot. Unfortunately, and fortunately, the only answer is a humbling realization that we are broken, needy, and hurting people who do not have within ourselves the wherewithal to find peace, and that only by looking outside our little world can we find a source great enough to meet our need. Jesus Christ is the source of peace. Consider a visit to the Lord’s house on a Sabbath day.
      Booger wants to help but Booger cannot.

Rev. Dan Martin is pastor of First UMC, Hendersonville. He can be reached at moose1953@hotmail.com