EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2021 I began a new venture writing a newspaper column titled "Finding Faith" for the Forum Communications Co. network of newspapers and websites. I was asked to contribute to the company's ongoing conversation about faith, lending a Lutheran and fairly ecumenical approach to the discussion. The column was published in several of the company's papers and websites, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. This column originally appeared as a "Finding Faith" column on Oct. 6, 2023.
By The Rev. Devlyn Brooks
“So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:21)
A few days back, Cody, the elder statesman of our pet menagerie, and I took our nightly walk.
We wouldn’t go far: 14-plus years into life, Cody was all about slowing down, taking in the best of what creation had to offer. The antithesis of his rush-through-life younger brother Gus Gus.
So Cody’s walks had diminished to about three blocks, turn, meander home.
But on this night, the grand Ol’ Man took a long interest in the base of each of the boulevard trees, capturing every scent to memory. There were more grass patches catching his nose’s attention. He even took interest in the yappy puppy across the street whom he normally ignored.
At his turnaround point, he waited an extra couple ticks to see if the kind lady who lives there would come out with a dog bone as she so often has. After determining she wasn’t going to appear, we turned for home, a leg of the trip that took almost twice as long as normal.
It was our last walk ever.
After 10 years of joy with our family, Cody ventured over the Rainbow Bridge last week, leaving a great big, heartbreaking hole in our family.
I could write volumes about Cody. Like the multiple times he ran away the first year home from the rescue shelter. The time he serenaded the neighborhood as our youngest daughter practiced her trumpet out on the deck. The times our kids got him howling like only a husky can do. His look of utter bewilderment when someone wanted him to play. The early disdain he had for Gus Gus the Invader.
Most importantly, though, Cody was the glue that brought together our young family a decade ago after Shelley and I married. Both families were hurting; the kids needed to learn how to live together; and we needed to learn how to parent together. And this big ol’ household of six needed a common cause: Cody stepped into that void and gave us something over which to bond.
Cody certainly wasn’t a cuddler, but he was wise beyond belief. An old soul who himself had seen darker days, I think Cody understood we were all in the same boat. And without ever a single gripe, he accepted the role of filling in the broken cracks in each of us.
He’s earned his rest, and he’s now transferred the duty of family caretaker to the other pets in the house. But no one will ever hold the place in our family that Cody did.
Rest in peace, you good and faithful servant. You were proof that angels sometimes walk on four legs too. We love you! … Amen.
Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He also works for Forum Communications Co. He can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com for comments and story ideas.
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