The Pink Dog Lady

Every morning I ride my friend’s bike to a Starbucks three and a half miles away. Every morning I pass a rooster in a yard that crows, reminding me of Africa and my friends there. And every morning where I sit, I see the woman in this picture. With her two dogs. Always dressed in pink bandanas to match her pink outfit. And they sit on their chairs.

The first time I saw her my first thought was, “That is SO wrong. There are children being neglected around the world and her dogs sit at a table with her. In matching outfits.

My second thought was, “Oh my gosh, what if that’s me in twenty years? Lonely and crazy enough to do that?”

My third thought was, “I wonder what Jesus’ first thought would be.”

Jesus and the woman at the well and Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, Jesus and the bent woman. It doesn’t seem like His first thought was ever, “That is SO wrong!”

I don’t know what His first thought was, but I know He saw beloved children, created in His image.

With the “sinful” woman who anoints him, He asks the Pharisees, “Do you see this woman?” I imagine there was an implied, “REALLY see, like I do?”

And He asked questions. Invited people to share their story.

So I’m trying to “see” the pink lady. And today I asked her a question.

“What are your dogs’ names?”

Lame, I know, but I figure I’ve gotta start somewhere.