A string of pearls

Yesterday evening, or so it seems, my best friend of ten years gave me her final pearl of wisdom. My friend was a four and a half pound poodle.

As Claire drew her last breath in my arms, she looked directly  into my heart. Her brown eyes tunneled softly behind my irises which were brimmed by huge tears.

Claire had a dedicated veterinarian who told me her cancer was so advanced that this moment could come any time. I knew this was the moment. I was looking into her eyes for the last time. I saw a sparkling clear light which revealed to me that said she had never left Love's source

I experienced in her last tiny breath an absolute innocence
when she inhaled and then expressed her final pearl of wisdom in her last inaudible exhale. This pearl took me to the very edge of eternity and safely home into the timeless space between my breaths.

In the very moment Life faded from her fathomless brown eyes we were suddenly formless in a still point some where in eternity. The transforming power of Love was revealed to me as I am sure it has been revealed to you through your singular experiences in life.

This witness to Love was my reminder that the only real truth is Love. LOVE through all our suffering and tragedy . Love in every living creation. I surely needed a reminder right then because my very best friend had just left that little ball of white fur she inhabited.

This is not, as you might think, the entire story of Claire; albeit I surely could write of her mighty life. She saved mine when my home burned; gave delight to people who by culture  and personality were as varied as wild flowers. She was the consummate Ambassador of Kindness whether she was sitting on the lap of a great Indian holy woman; jumping out of my pocketbook in church and  prancing with a big smile to the communion rail  or joyfully greeting a homeless person. I spoke the truth when I said I could tell many tales of her. I am certain you too have your great stories. what I will finally say  is that she never forgot anyone she met joyfully and she met everyone joyfully. She was my greatest teacher of unconditional Love.

I wanted  to tell you about Claire because she is  one of the inspirations behind  this web site.

Tonight as I sit  by the fireplace and look at the the worn green velvet pillow where Claire slept while I wrote, I am called to remember that she expressed beauty as a call to action.
I think she would approve of beauty is a verb.

This is just the first pearl on this string of pearls here on beauty is a verb.

thank you for reading,  rev. gifford bonney