Best Friends / The World | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, December 15, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 BEST FRIENDS & MORE Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 15, 2018 Happy Tails by Chris Leclerc FAREWELL TO PATCHES BEST FRIEND CATERINE Beyond the captivating beauty of Caterine is a calm lady who craves the peaceful continuity of life in her own home. She likes people to approach her slowly and will then relax into the hand massaging her head and ears and stroking down her soft white and gray coat. The attention is rewarded by her purring of contentment while she “makes biscuits” on the bed or lap she is on. Caterine is more than just a pretty face, which has the cutest smudge mustache. She enjoys playing with her visitors. A simple shoe string can be the beginning of a tug of war game that ends when she wins. Sometimes the laser dot game of chase will set off Caterine’s huntress instincts. Other times she seems to not want to bother with something she wisely knows can’t really catch. Caterine’s beauty and sweetness will add décor and bring calmness to your home, while also adding some fun. Please come meet Caterine in Meow Manor. Take advantage of our special adoption fee price of $25 for the month of December! The adoption price includes spay surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more information. She is located at the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society, 851 E. Grand Ave. Adoption hours are 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday -Sundays, closed Mondays. Website: www. sgvhumane.org . As far back as ten or twelve days ago, I had a specific topic in mind for this week’s column. I had even mulled it over numerous times as I walked my dogs around town, making mental notes of how I might write it in a way that I hoped would be inviting and interesting to my readers. Funny how life has a way of making last-minute modifications to the plans we put in place, isn‘t it? You know what I‘m talking about; those ‘out-of-nowhere’, unexpected occurrences that completely alter your course, potentially putting you into a tail spin if you’re not flexible and willing enough to bend. I’ve learned that it’s best to just go ahead and bend because if you don’t, Heaven forbid, you might break. I suppose this may be what happened to me last week. One minute I was thinking about typing up a story having to do with big cats and their habitats, and the next minute I was in a state of sadness and shock, somewhat perplexed and groping to find the words to properly memorialize the life of a dearly beloved four-legged friend. Fact is, I find it challenging to write about anything that is not within my heart to be written at the moment, and likewise difficult to avoid writing that which is. So, long story short, I did not break (thankfully), rather I bent and began working on a story quite different from the one I’d originally planned to write. They are only here on earth for a short time, our canine companions. Far too short a time, if you ask me. I once heard a show host on talk radio say the reason dogs live such short lives compared to humans is because God takes each of us home when He is sure we’ve learned how to love unconditionally, and it just so happens that dogs get it a lot quicker than we humans do. I actually don’t know if that’s true, but I’d challenge anyone to prove that it isn’t. Anyway, I do digress…So, the story I decided to write this week is in honor of my dear friend, Patches, who was loved and will be missed by many of both the two- and four-legged persuasion. Our dear Patches fell gravely ill over the weekend and at the ripe age of 12 years, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 he crossed that Proverbial Rainbow Bridge. May he rest in peace. Patches was an absolutely gorgeous Red Merle Australian Shepherd with lots of light brown spots (thus the name Patches) and brilliant blue and brown marbled eyes. Even more endearing to me, was his personality. Patches had the sweetest disposition you could ever hope to find in a dog. He had this uncanny cuteness that really drew you in. Patches had the most adorable little quirks. For example, upon my arrival for our walks each day, he’d immediately flip over on his back, knowing I couldn’t resist rubbing his soft, pink belly. Then, after our walks when we’d get back into the house, I would laugh every time he’d lay down and cross his front legs like a human, as if he knew I‘d get a kick out of it! I honestly don’t think Patches knew what it meant to bite someone, though he had a mouth full of healthy teeth to do it with. No, Patches wasn’t a fighter or a biter, he was a lover. He enjoyed using those pearly whites to greet people on the street with a huge smile. It always warmed my heart when he’d stare at fellow pedestrians during our walks, hoping they would stop and give him a friendly pat or a kind word. And I must say, all who did take the time to meet Patches were instantly enamored by his beauty, inside and out. Patches lived a fabulous life with his loving human family. But I mustn’t forget to mention the family member who was closest to Patches. That would be the apple of Patches’ eye; Puck. Now, Puck and Patches were brother- pups and by that I don’t mean they were biological brothers. I just mean as pups, they were brought home on the same day, grew up together and spent nearly every waking hour together. Of course, both being canines, Patches and Puck had much in common. But they did have their differences. Puck is a darling blonde Cocker Spaniel who is somewhat shorter than his brother, Patches was. And much like human siblings, the two boys had occasional spats over such things as balls and bully sticks, but 99.9% of the time they were snuggling buddies who had each other’s backs. I imagine they probably even kept a few secrets from their humans on each others‘ behalf! No words are sufficient to describe the bond I have been blessed to have with my precious canine companions, not the least of which was the one I have had with Patches. And while I cannot claim to feel the intensity of loss that Patches’ family is feeling right now, I can at least empathize, having been through similar scenarios with my own pets. Now it is their turn and I do not envy their position. All my love goes out to Terry, Patches’ human ’mom’ and the entire Sterling family, during their difficult time of loss. You have been the most awesome owners for your pups, and I know Patches was forever grateful for your tender-loving-care. Happy Trails to you, sweet Patches… til we meet again. NORMA JEAN/ MARILYN MONROE NORMA JEAN, age about 3, is waiting for Santa to find her a home where she is treasured. She is very happy, super loving, playful and sweet and will love you to bits. She is FIV+ but we all know by now that it’s easily managed, and no meds are needed. NORMA JEAN may look just ordinary on the outside, but inside she’s as beautiful as Marilyn Monroe! Call Lifeline for Pets to meet her: 626-676-9505. See more pictures and her cute video at http://www. lifelineforpets.org/seniors--sp-needs.html THE WORLD AROUND US CHRISTOPHER Nyerges OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder WHO IS SANTA CLAUS? A few years ago, I recall a Christian woman complaining that Santa Claus has gained a more prominent role during the Christmas season than the Jesus child. She argued that this was a sign that “we” have allowed secularism – and maybe even paganism – to creep into the Christmas tradition. Really!? So, who is Santa Claus? Isn’t he just a fictitious jolly man to make us feel happy during the dark of December? Not really. There actually was an historical figure, upon which “Santa Claus” is based. Nikolas of Myra was an historical 4th century Bishop in the Catholic church of Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). He was born on March 15, 270, in Pataya, Lycia, in Asia Minor, what is now modern Turkey. At that time, however, the area was culturally Greek, and was politically a part of the Roman diocese of Asia. He was the only child of wealthy Greek parents, who both died in an epidemic when Nicholas was young. Nicholas inherited much from his parents, and was then raised by his uncle (also named Nicholas), who was a Bishop of Patara, and who trained young Nicholas into priesthood. Nicholas was said to be religious from an early age, and he always fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. Because of his outspoken beliefs, he was persecuted by the Romans and was imprisoned during the persecution of Diocletian. In case you never heard of the “persecution of Diocletian” (I hadn’t), it was the most severe of the persecutions against Christians, simply because they were Christians, in the Roman Empire. It was also known as the “Great Persecution.” In 303, four emperors issued a series of dictatorial laws which essentially did away with any legal rights of Christians. The edicts demanded that the Christians comply with traditional Roman “religious” practices, meaning, giving sacrifices to the various so-called Roman gods. This persecution was severe, and was weakest in the British colonies where the Empire had the least sway. It was the most severe in the Eastern provinces, where Nicholas lived. Since Nicholas refused to worship the Roman gods, he was imprisoned, and suffered hardship, hunger, and cold for about 5 years. With the rise of Constantine, the persecutions came to an end in 313. With Constantine in power, Nicholas was released. Constantine is known for “Christianizing” the Roman Empire, and re-naming all the Mythraic and so-called “pagan” holidays so they could all now be regarded as Christian holidays. Shortly after his return to his homeland in 317 A.D., Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra. He was later invited to attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, the famous council where much of the modern dogma of the Catholic church was determined. Nicholas of Myra was one of many bishops to participate in the Council at Constantine’s request. He is listed as the 151st attendee at the Council. There, Nicholas was a staunch anti-Arian. Arius, from Alexandria, held that the Son of God did not always exist, but was created by the Father. Nicholas disagreed with Arius, and defended the developing orthodox Christian viewpoint. According to stories told, Nicholas got so angry at Arius that he punched him in the face! Really? Proto-Santa Claus punches a fellow man of the cloth? Really? Back in his homeland, Nicholas became known as a very generous bishop. Remember, he inherited wealth from his parents, and he would sometimes give gold and other valuables to those that he heard was in need. In one case, it is said that Nicholas tossed a bag of gold coins into a needy family’s yard, anonymously. He was apparently humble, and didn’t want to be seen giving money to people, so he did it secretly. He was so famous for wanting to give such gifts in private when he traveled the countryside, children were told to go to sleep quickly or Nicholas would not come with gifts. This, apparently, is the origin of telling children to go to sleep or that Santa will not come. In one story, he apparently snuck into the home of a family where the three daughters of a poor man were about to get married. Nicholas put some gold into the stockings which the girls left by the fire to dry. This, apparently, is the origin of hanging up stockings on Christmas eve. He was also well known for the gifts that he gave to newly married couples during the already established Christmas season. And so it goes. Nicholas was a complex man, part of the new Catholic tradition which celebrated the birth of Jesus on the already-observed winter solstice. (Early Judeo-Christians did not celebrate the birth of Jesus, a date that has been lost to history, but was definitely not December 25). He died on December 6, 343,which is to this day known as “Saint Nicholas Day.” Upon his death, he was buried in the cathedral of Myra. He is revered as a saint in most versions of Christianity and is especially honored in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. By the year 450, churches in Greece and Asia Minor were being named in honor of Nicholas. He was officially honored as a saint by the Eastern Catholic Church in 800. December 6 began to be celebrated as Bishop Nicholas Day in France by the 1200s. As time went on, when ever someone received a mysterious gift, it would be attributed to Saint Nicholas! The Dutch called Saint Nicholas “Sinterklass,” which is the most likely manner in which the name Saint Nicholas gradually evolved into “Santa Claus.” Along the way, Saint Nicholas was given some of the attributes of Odin, the Norse God, who could travel through the sky and who had a secret home somewhere around the north pole. Come to think of it, even the Superman story also borrowed from Odin. Remember how Superman sometimes goes to a secret cavern in the Northern coldlands and converses with his ancestors via ice crystals? The image continued to morph over the years, with the Coco Cola company giving the world a somewhat sanitized and plumper Saint Nicholas-Santa Claus with their early 20th century ads. There we began to see the fatter bearded man in the red suit. Today, the man you see in the mall is the modern condensation of fact and myth, embodying the generosity of one Catholic Bishop, the good will of all who gave gifts in his stead, and bits of the mythology of Odin. MY LITTLE DEAR, IT’S NOT WARM OUTSIDE! Once again, it is the Christmas season, which means I have to put up with people offended by everything, particularly that pertains to Christmas. When I was young, we had a little saying, “Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you.” And as far as I understand, we stood by that saying. Most people today have never heard that saying and maybe somebody ought to educate them on some of the realities of life. If words are hurting you, something is wrong with “you.” Everybody is offended by something. I am offended by people who are offended by things I say, which makes no sense whatsoever to me. Where people got this offend-itis disease is beyond me. I wonder if there is any cure for this kind of disease? I was in the restaurant the other day and behind me, a person sneezed. Instinctively, I turned around and said, “God bless you.” Of course, I was not ready for the reply when the man said to me, “I’m an atheist don’t you dare use that word ‘God’ around me.” I am a gentleman otherwise I might have been tempted to say something like, “Well, then, God curse you.” Thankfully, I did not say anything like that. I wonder if unspoken thoughts really matter along this line? What puzzles me is why somebody who does not believe in God is offended by the word “GOD.” The fact that he was offended by that word tells me that somewhere deep inside of him he believes there is a God. Otherwise, it would never have offended him. If I was an atheist and someone said to me “God bless you,” I would laugh it off because I do not believe in God. To be offended by something you do not believe has to be the epitome of stupidity. Another offensive phrase is, “Merry Christmas.” I happened to mention this to a person I was passing in the store and they looked at me kind of Scrooge- like and said, “Don’t you dare wish me a Merry Christmas.” I would like to know why two words like “Merry Christmas” are offensive to anyone? Being an amateur wordsmith, I like to research words and try to find out their original meaning. There is no way I have found that the two words “Merry” and “Christmas” have anything whatsoever offensive to them. Those offended by those two words have a chimney that is not smoking. If you are offended by those two words, maybe you should consider the fact that I may be offended by you being offended by those words. What offends one person does not make any sense to someone else. This is America so keep your offending attitude to yourself. Just the other day I was going into a store and there was a lady behind me, so as a gentleman, I opened the door for her and said, “Ladies first.” I would have a hard time understanding the offensiveness of those two words. The lady looked at me and said, “That is the most sexist thing I have heard all day.” I have been trying to find out what is sexist about those two words. I am either homophobic (whatever that means), racist or sexist. I do not know if I am all of these things at different times or what. I never know if I am one of these until somebody tells me I am one. There are Christmas songs that we cannot play on the radio anymore, movies that we cannot watch at Christmas time, decorations that we cannot put outside our home anymore. I heard recently that the song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” is offensive to some people. I have listened to that for years and cannot figure out the offensive side of that song. What’s crazy to me are those offended by that song are completely okay with some female singer getting on stage barely clothed, singing a depravity soaked song with lustful lyrics you can’t use in public. Why is that okay and not sexist, but when I open a door for a lady and say, “Ladies First,” that is sexist? Some people refer to this as the war on Christmas. If that is true, I believe those people are losing that war. No matter what anybody says or thinks I still will celebrate Christmas, wish people “Merry Christmas” and say, “God bless you” when somebody sneezes and open a door for the ladies. If those things offend people, I am happy and most delighted to keep doing them. For years now, there has been a war on Christmas, but it seems that Christmas comes every year at the same time. Isn't that simply amazing? No matter what people say or how offended they are by it, Christmas still comes. I could think of quite a few things that would offend me. However, I have a thick skin and a tender heart. My life is not depended upon somebody being offended. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is in the book of Proverbs. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). I refuse to let people who are offended by everything direct my path. My trust is not in man, but rather “in the Lord.” Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship. He lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage in Ocala. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e- mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries. com. Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||