photo by Service1stGraphics

Once upon a time, I sensed that I could do much more good in partnership than alone.  I had a vision of the love I would share with my partner circling the globe, touching the hearts of those who needed to believe in the power of love, touching the hearts of those who needed to believe in miracles when presented with a dire health diagnosis, and touching the hearts of those who needed to believe that love was always possible even if the relationship got off to a rocky start.  So I asked God to send me a partner in love, in light, in service, and in life.

I’ve joined with more than one partner to do these powerful things together until death did us part.

I met my most recent partner when neither of us was ready or willing to open our hearts to each other.  Circumstances brought us together, but circumstances couldn’t make us love each other until we both relaxed our resistance to love.  And that took years.  Neither of us gave up on each other, although we both were tempted to leave the relationship along the way.

Three years ago this week, my partner was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

My partner didn’t die six weeks later, as the doctor predicted.  The doctor was unable to find the enormous tumor a month after diagnosis.  My partner died two years later, and not from cancer.  My partner and I formed an intensely loving bond together and a bond of love, friendship and appreciation with those who partnered with us in creating our miracle.  I went from asking everyone I met to pray for my partner to sharing the story of my partner’s miraculous recovery with everyone I met.

We would walk up and down the streets of the town that prayed my partner back to health.  People thought we lived there.  We didn’t, but we became part of the community through our frequent visits.  One man called us “the spiritual center of the community.”  He encouraged me to move there, saying that I had a great mission to fulfill in that town.  People cried when they heard our story, thanking me for giving them hope through the telling of our story.  People called out to us from their porches when they saw us walk by, asking how my partner was doing.  People thanked us for demonstrating what is possible in life.  Our story touched many hearts, the hearts of people who wanted to believe in the transformational power of love.  I am honored to have been paired with someone who completely accepted all my love.   Most people push away love, either consciously or unconsciously.  My partner received it all and returned it all to me.

We lived in a bubble of love for two years.  Once I was over the initial shock of hearing the severity of the diagnosis, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the cancer.  I figured if the holistic cancer treatment was supposed to work, then it would work, and if it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t.  I paid a lot of attention to the blessed connection we shared and to creating the best possible life for my partner.  With or without cancer, we lived in a bubble of love for two years.

My life is very different since my dog Laila died last June at age 16.   I miss being in service with another.  I miss the exchange of love.  I miss touching the hearts of others through our walks together.   I still sense that my highest service is in union with another, and I sense that, after surviving many health challenges, only the exchange of love and a service partnership will keep me here.  I have prayed to be joined with another partner in love, in light, in service, and in life.  I know it is on its way to me, in whatever form is best for the two of us.

While researching an upcoming guest for my radio show, Catalytic Radio with Sheryl Hirsch-Kramer, I was led to a short blurb about an event at a local library featuring Layla The Malamute.  This Layla is in service with her person, Amy Novak.  Layla and Amy visit a local library every month so that people of all ages can practice reading out loud to someone who won’t judge them if they mess up.  Layla is a therapy dog.  Layla and Amy visit schools to teach the children the proper way to approach a dog they don’t know.  And Layla came into Amy’s life to support her when her grandmother was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.  She was named for the line in the Clapton song, “Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?”  And she did.

I didn’t know most of this when I saw the blurb.  I wasn’t looking to meet a Layla or a Laila, but something compelled me to drive the fifty miles to spend time with this angelic dog.  Here she is:

My Friend Layla The Malamute

My grieving heart was soothed to see Layla and Amy in service together.   Their service is different than the service my Laila and I did, but their service is no less important than ours.  And Layla is such a happy girl!  I facilitate energy work.  When I placed my hands on her, I felt the joy bubbling up within.  I thanked Amy for the privilege of putting my hands on a being so filled with all that is good.   She is a healer.  So is Amy.  They make a great team.

I knew I had to do something to commemorate our meeting, and I came up with what I am calling “The Laila Award.”  I am celebrating Layla and Amy for all the good they bring to our world.  Amy and I are working out the date for her appearance on my radio show.  I am bringing back my dormant skills as a calligrapher to create a modest certificate that will be presented, along with some dog treats, when Layla and Amy compete at a dog agility trial near where I live.  Layla and Amy, in addition to everything else they do together, recently were awarded the Master Agility Champion Title, called the MACH Title.  Layla is nine years old.  This is quite an accomplishment, especially for a big dog!  I don’t think it’s coincidental that I’ll be seeing them just a few days after the first anniversary of my Laila’s passing, and I look forward to it.

Here’s a video of Layla and Amy learning to partner in their agility journey from Novice A to MACH:

I encourage you to choose someone you know, someone who is in service to your community, and create your own version of “The Laila Award.”  I don’t believe in categorizing service as being big or small.  Service to others is service.  When we celebrate others for their service, we help to create a more heart centered and less selfish world.

And do what Layla does.  Wherever you go in life, whatever you do in life, make sure you get enough string cheese.

Make sure you’re getting what feeds you as you make your way through life.

Are you finding your way back to life?  Are you wanting an infusion of let’s-get-back-to-living- spirit?  Did reading this blog light you up?  Good!  I invite you to visit www.TransformingThroughLove.com and learn about the professional services I offer.   Let’s schedule a free consult to see if we’re a match for each other. 

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