I Want It - You have It - I'm Taking It

Twice a day I prepare two bowls of food for our dogs. Tahoe is a 9 month old Black Lab who's close to 60 pounds. Shasta is a 9 year old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler who seems to be shrinking to about 50 pounds. Since Tahoe moved in over Easter weekend (not really recommended for the Pastor's house - won't ever do that again) the two of them have come to terms, made peace, and generally get along. Shasta is comfortable roaming all over the house, but Tahoe can't get it together to descend the basement stairs. Thus, she hides out in the basement and he lives on the main floor. Ah, we are now a family with a dog on every floor.

Meal time, though, is in the kitchen and they each have their own kind of food. Shasta has the senior type that limits her protein, calories, etc., to keep her fit and healthy. Tahoe has the carb loaded puppy food to make sure he gets to 100 pounds. Once I put the bowls on the floor (or out on the patio when the weather is good) basic rules of behavior take over.

I think we're all familiar with these rules. The first one is "I want what you have" and the next one is "I'm taking what you have." It goes like this: Tahoe starts eating and Shasta just stands there staring at her oh so boring and familiar food. Tahoe takes a break and walks away. Shasta wanders over in a very casual manner (so we don't notice) and starts chomping away. When Tahoe comes back he sees his place is taken so he goes to her bowl to finish her food. When it's all said and done he hasn't gotten the nutrients he needs and she's gotten all the ones she doesn't need. I do my best to referee this event, but often other things have my attention.

They say dogs share a high percentage of our DNA and based on their eating practices I tend to agree. Seeking what others have and making plans to secure it is an exercise humans engage in on a very regular basis. The seeking and securing can be as inconsequential as buying the same hose attachment my neighbor uses on her flowers. But, seeking and securing can also result in irreversible consequences brought about by our endless appetites for power and control. Consequences that we set in motion by our own appetites, desires for more, and lack of respect for others ripple across our human landscape in visible, but more often invisible, waves.

Twice a day it's clear to me what my dogs are up to with their food bowls. I wish I could say the same about myself and everyone else in the world. I want it - you have it - I'm taking it. God help us.