AN OLD DOG
Repost from 2010
Fifteen or twenty years ago one of the ladies had a “Farside” calendar on her desk in the office. You remember those, the cartoon for every day of the year with the date on it. It was bound at the top and you just peeled one day off to reveal not only the next days date, but more importantly the next days cartoon.
Some of them were amusing, some I didn’t get, some were pretty funny. This one, I remember still cracks me up! I think I actually rolled on the floor of the office the day I saw it. I can’t remember the date, but the cartoon I’ll never forget.
It was a drawing of a dog named Rex. Rex was balancing on a unicycle that he was riding across a high-wire in a circus act. He held a long balancing pole across his chest with a smaller dog on one end of the pole and a scared, arched back cat on the other end. The artist drew several close lines around the body of Rex to indicate his shaking while trying to stay balanced. There were drops of sweat shooting off of Rex’s face. To top it off the artist gave Rex big, scared wide open eyes.
With that picture in mind here was the caption; “The one thing that was really bothering Rex was that he was an old dog, and this was a new trick”!
This, of course, assumes one is familiar with the old adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
I’ve given that dumb cartoon some thought over the last couple of decades. More now than before but for different reasons. Occasionally when I’m venturing into something new I remember it. I’ve heard the “old dog” analogy used on many different people in my life, usually referring to an older person in business or a person in the work place that bucks change. These type of people will drag their feet or go out of their way to make a change being implemented more difficult. I’ve also seen the people who force a company to fire them because they refuse to change.
Some of us get in our comfort zones and don’t really want those zones to change boundaries. We all like to find the habits of procedures in our lives and fold them into a daily routine so there are no surprises.
We as adults don’t really like surprises. Oh we like the obligatory present because we have an idea of what’s in the box. Real surprises for us are dreaded. We try to avoid them like the plague. The telephone ringing in the middle of the night when our kids aren’t home is not a good surprise.
We’ve come to dread so much the possible in life that we lose the joy of the dreaming and striving for the impossible. God’s word says, “With God all things are possible.” I believe that with all my heart and soul.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve received some of those dreaded surprises in my life. I’ve also been the recipient of great joy doing the things others gave up as impossible.
Change is inevitable, it’s going to happen whether I want it to or not. I’ve come to realize with change comes opportunity, something to be excited about. Like I was when I was a kid looking forward to Christmas. At the very least with change comes more knowledge to use with the wisdom given by God for our and others lives.
This writing rediscovered by me now is one of those changes. I’m not saying I’m good, but I’m gratified, even if nobody else is.
It is a gift from God and I’m thankful for it, because I am an old dog, and this is a new trick!
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 7:27 am
I didn’t really pay much attention to the Far Side so never saw that one. However, I like your application. it is hard to make changes sometimes, especially as one gets older. But I like change and sometimes forget others don’t or don’t move as fast as I do. Am also glad you have “found” your writing again.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 11:06 am
Thanks Bill. I’m honored that you spend the time to share it.
Nancy
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 9:09 am
Hey Floyd! With me launching my small dental assisting school, nothing has been status-quo. It is one big extreme faith-challenge on a daily basis. No regular paycheck for sure. None of it has come easy, but fighting thru all the red tape, the dental office fiascos, and the constant of recruiting,there is never any real closure. However I find myself with thicker skin and a solid trust in my Provider.
I don’t get rattled so easily over most things. That glory all goes to GOD!
Come to think of it, The Lord has never allowed me to get in a “rut” so to speak. Once I wrote a spoof-type song with a C & W flair. One of the lines said, “Just knowin’, that never-knowing’, is the comfort I can find.” LOL! In other words, I could count on change. I do remember Far-side. Many of those ‘toons passed over my head as well!
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 11:09 am
What a great line! That sounds like secret wisdom! Embracing the challenge of life is a gift from God. Learning new things should be part of all of our lives. God granted us the gift to be able to continue growing in wisdom our entire lives. I think that’s a miracle all in itself.
Jay Cookingham
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 10:10 am
Huge Far Side fan here…probably explains a lot about me…anyways, moving on. Your insight and your writing is a blessing to me, so keep it up bro’!
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 11:12 am
Thanks Jay! With your own cartoon strip I’m not surprised! I’ll keep on keeping on and thanks for your input.
Jason Stasyszen
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 11:14 am
I would just say, “good thing we’re not dogs!” Maybe we can’t change on our own, but God’s grace is powerful and has no expiration date. Faith always carries a level of risk so I fully intend to be risking for the rest of my life. Following the lead of the Holy Spirit will make sure of that. 🙂 I look at what God has led me to and through in my life and I really do marvel. I would not have planned it or thought it possible, but He just keeps showing up and I’m so grateful. It’s incredibly fulfilling. Thank you, Floyd.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
Thanks Jason. I’m glad I’ve got to watch your faith be blessed and multiplied by our Father. It is inspiring.
TC Avey
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
I remember those calendars- there were some I didn’t understand either. I tend to buck change, I like things the way they are. But change can be good and growing stagnant is definitely NOT good. so I really don’t have a choice but to embrace change- sometimes I do it with more grace than others. oops!
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
I’m with you TC. I think I probably look a lot like the cartoon dog Rex on that old calendar!
Dan Black
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
I’ve read some of cartoons from the Far Side, the one you mentioned is funny and true:)
My goal as I get older is to not get stuck in my same old routines and “tricks”. When I’m in my fifty’s I still want to be growing and changing.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 10:18 pm
Good for you Dan. God’s gift for us to continue to gain wisdom across our lifetime is a wonderful gift. Good point too about the “tricks”, they last for a second, true wisdom lasts for a lifetime.
Dan Black
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 9:34 pm
Thank you. I know it’s going to be challenging the older I get but it’s a mindset I’m choosing to have.
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 6:14 pm
Thank you for another enjoyable post. You are still young.
For myself, I believe that a person is never too old to learn something new.
This is year three for me in the blogging echo, and I am not a young gal. God isn’t finished with us yet, no matter our age. We simply nust learn to listen then to act on what we hear.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
Great point Hazel, God is never finished with us while we’re here. Thanks for your example of that. Listening… I’m getting better, but I have a ways to go…
david bartosik
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 2:27 am
old post with plenty of quality stuff still to say! Love the idea of continuing to dream. i keep reading blog’s that talk about a renewed sense of vision for a dream they had that fell to the back burner as a result of work, family, bills, etc but counting to grow and be refreshed! Great stuff Floyd, keep pulling the best of the best from the archives 🙂
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 9:59 am
Thanks David, I don’t know if they’re the best, but those same restraints that caused the back burner effect to begin with are still in play! I now count almost all of them as blessings.