A Dog, a Limp, and a Wink from the Universe
An odd little moment reminded me I might not be hiking alone.
Let’s start with this: no dog was harmed in the creation of this issue.
I pay attention to coincidences and odd events, trying to be open to the possibility they are signs that the world doesn’t work the way we are told it does.
Here’s one that happened yesterday morning…
Lately I’ve been hiking about eight miles a day, and I was out walking a popular trail along a local Oregon river. On a stretch of the trail trail, I had time to notice a small group ahead—a man, two women, and their large dog. One of the women had a limp, and I was getting closer to them, I started to turn over in my mind the reality that:
1.) I’d have to say “excuse me” and pass them
2.) The limping woman was the reason I was passing them
I never like to make people feel bad, so I was almost dreading the impending event, because it might make the woman that feel she was slowing everyone down.
To complicate things, this stretch of trail was an elevated wooden walkway over wetlands, narrower than usual.
I needed to pass them, but didn’t want to do it. Now, I was only about 100 feet behind them.
Their dog was on the man’s right. Then… he wasn’t.
The dog fell off the platform, dropping about four feet to the ground. He was a bit stunned, but unhurt. After a moment, he jumped back onto the platform. By this time, I was right next to them as they asked each other, “What happened?”
I had seen it all, and I bent to pat him and explained that he didn’t leap or intentionally decide to explore. He just disappeared off the edge, without warning.
After patting him for about ten seconds, I stood up straight and continued hiking; they were still amazed at what happened and kept standing there.
As I walked on, it hit me: maybe the universe found a way for me to pass with grace.
I have never seen a healthy dog—who was walking calmly on a leash—fall off of a stable platform. Have you?
One last point: over the course of my life, many of the difficult to explain things that have happened to me have occurred when I am in a calm, peaceful, still state like I was in the woods.
Was it coincidence, or kindness? I’m not sure. But it felt like a tip of the hat from the universe—a small gesture that said, “We’ve got your back. We like your instincts. Keep going.”
I love this, and have become to realize the universe does have us, has a wicked sense of humor at times, and still allows us self determination.
I believe this kind of thing happens to us all frequently but most are unaware of it, choose to ignore it, or don’t believe In 'that kind of thing.'