Zac Attack in Heaven!

In loving memory of Zac, born December 1, 2014, died June 2, 2025.

If you ever met Zac, you know what a “Zac Attack” is. Our little boy, born of our Cap and Abbie, with his distinctive one and a half pinna, or outer ear, would jump on you and wag his tail with abject excitement. Yes, I know I should have broken him of that, but I could not bear to dampen that joy.

Zac was the happiest dog I have ever known.

Well, after weeks of veterinarian care, multiple medications, a cancer operation, and hand and syringe feeding at home, Zac’s heart began to give out. His bone marrow wasn’t producing platelets, and his body wasn’t getting enough oxygen. So he had one last and difficult walk part way down our tree line, and one last visit to the animal hospital.

We received many handwritten notes from that hospital the next week, and we know the comments about Zac being “the sweetest” were sincere since we saw him wagging that happy tail over an again, even though he knew there were many needle pokes coming.

Wagging, just a bit, right to the end.

Loosing Betty and Zac in quick succession, and nursing them for long hours on the floor of our living room, plunged Connie and me rather involuntarily into thoughts of death and life. On the evening of that June 2 death day we met online with our amazing and loving group of Bible students and we prayed:

Dear God, in the midst of life we are in death.

Of whom may we seek comfort but of thee. 

In the midst of life we are jolted out of our certainties and made to face the mysteries.  The mysteries of life are delightful, yet we too often are oblivious to them.

The mysteries of death are heartbreaking. How do we keep on trusting in your promises of eternity?    

What are we to make of the mystery revealed to us in your Word in Ephesians, that it is your will and your plan in the fullness of time to gather up in Christ all things in heaven and earth? 

In the midst of life we are in death.

In the midst of life we are in mystery.

Open our eyes to the mysteries of life abundant in our loved ones, in our companion animals, and in the wild ones too.

Open our hearts to the mysteries of Oneness that is coming in the fullness of time.

We do not understand these mysteries…yet. But help us live them.   

Amen.