God's Pocket
My First Thought
Serendipity
Believe In Yourself
EJ Shares
The Other Side Of Heaven
Rev Mark H Beierle
A Lesson For Bugsy And Me
All Is In Divine Order
Hurrah! It is raining
All Is In Divine Order
Soap Bubbles
Sylvia M Enz
Practice Principle
Practitioner Letter
Thinking Together
Hi Dad
Sounds like fun!
You are always looking at the fun side of life and that is one of the things I like about you. I hope I have learned to do that as well as you. Some of my customers have commented on my happy attitude so I must have learned something from you in how to express the true self.
Bugsy has been teaching me how to have fun too!
Bugsy sees me pick up the controller for the easy glider powered sailplane model that I like to fly. It is electric powered and you can cut off the power and glide after you find the lift on the ridge.
One of the specifications I gave out for selecting the right dog is that he is very smart and inquisitive and loves to figure things out and finds creative ways to enjoy life.
Bugsy sees me pick up the controller and knows that this means that I will be flying the plane. He thinks it is so cool that I have a birdlike machine that I can project in to the air and find the free energy to maintain its flight. Maybe he is looking at it more simply than that but he gets the idea.
I launch the power glider and Bugsy runs after it wishing that he could do what it is doing. As it gets out over the cliff and is gliding the ridge he is intently watching it with unbroken stare, ears focused on it as it flies back and forth, enlisting all of his cognitive skills in an attempt to predict what it will do next and where it will land. He starts to follow it back and forth as it effortlessly floats along the ridge not making any sound except for the occasional mouse-like-squeak of the servo as the controls are activated.
I set up for a landing approach and he knows right away what will come next and where it will land. He heads for that spot. Since the wind is a little gusty I make a less than perfect landing and the bounce pops the foam canopy cockpit cover off and it is laying next to the airplane on the ground.
Bugsy arrives milliseconds after it comes to a stop and starts his inspection as he has seen me do many times after a landing to make sure it is still ready for another flight. He noses around the perimeter of the wing. He looks inside the cockpit with great interest and then he looks at me. His head is lowered, crouching a little in a mischievous stance, smiling, tail up in the air and slightly arched forward. He mouths the wing tip in a playful manner one eye on me to see my reaction. I tell him: NO, drop it! He backs off and looks for something else he can do to be a part of the process. Ah! The canopy, its just the right size and shape. He carefully picks it up and runs off with it, turning to see what I will do next. I could chase him and try to get it back but this would only escalate the danger potential to the canopy, a delicate foam piece that he could dismantle to its component elements an a mater of seconds if he so chose. I decide that the best tactic is to simply give him the instruction to drop it and be persistent. He is a puppy and I have not yet commanded his full respect as the pack leader. He sees me as a friend but not a leader yet. With persistence I will fill both shoes.
So far this is not working completely, at least he is being careful with what he recognizes as my treasured component. But he is still thinking of this as a game that he is in control of. I look for a distraction, like his favorite ball. I toss it as far as I can. Bugsy turns to run, to chase the ball. In a cloud of dust, his short little legs are a blur as he injects all his energy into the chase of the ball; the canopy is still at his point of departure, awaiting my arrival to pick it up. I am relieved to find that the canopy does not have any teeth impressions and it is still in airworthy shape.
Now all I have to do is mention the word glider and he starts dancing around and whining and barking to express his anticipation and joy for another flight.
Happy Flying,
- Mark Beierle