The Role of Portable Space Heater (Nessie Finds a Way)

Last updated on: March 4, 2021 at 10:52 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Role of Portable Space Heater (Nessie Finds a Way) 2021-03-04T00:33:22-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

If you are the Wonder Dog Nessie, you find a way to be loving.

In her about-a-year-of-life the dog Nessie had never experienced such cold: 40 odd in the house, 8 outside. Houston got cold by Houston standards which would be laughable by Rochester, New York standards, but Nessie has never been to the Great Snowy North. If a man who had never run a lap was asked to run a mile, the marathoners should not mock. If a dog thinks 40 is cold, she should get a bone treat.

We were not ready for the chilling challenge.

As the house grew cold, Nessie grew worried. Her routine was disrupted as “fetch” became hard when the slobbery tennis ball began to stick to surfaces. Her jolly friends (Sunny! Chompy!) were not out at usual times and everyone was home all the time. That was good, but the candles, the propane fire, the lack of showers from the humans all presented too many new sensations at once.

What to do?

Nessie, the Wonder Dog, found a role: portable space heater. She loves to nuzzle under the blankets, being a good dog and all, heating up the space. She could make almost any temperature warm. Of course, she also benefited, since being a wonder dog she knew that when everyone is happy, including Wonder Dogs, then all is well. A cynic, on good grounds, can question whether this act of altruism was intentional, or whether she was merely getting warm.

I prefer, seeing her waggle her whole self and lick the hand that feeds her, to believe that love found a way. And as is the fate of those who teach, I thought of an Application while kicking away a blanket because Nessie had made me too warm.

We can, being human, as Aristotle might say, reason better than Nessie the Wonder Dog. We can do a more wondrous thing and go beyond “ball,” “poop on the grass,” and “bone treat.” We can extrapolate to any number of ways we can be helpful. We should be able to far surpass the dog Nessie.

That I do not, often enough, is a shame.

What is a new role now when I cannot do what I do most days? How can I help other housemates? How can I help everyone from the Beta in the bathroom to the guest in the guest room? If Nessie can become a portable space heater, what can I, with the flexible thinking of a human, do?

Nessie the Wonder Dog is not given to despair, because she cannot see far enough, consider dreadful possibilities. The world is simpler. We cannot wish to be Nessie, but we can learn from Nessie. She was never less than she is, so she became, in a pinch, useful, companionable, and fine. If we started with those goals, then we might find new roles, even in a bit of a crisis, and so be at least as useful as a dog.

The greatest thing about Nessie the Wonder Dog is her unflagging glee and love for balls, bone treats, and bouncing about the house. She finds a way to fetch, chew, and waggle regardless. I suppose times could grow really hard (not just sort-of-not-great) and Nessie might fail, yet she did not fail us as our portable space heater. She was full of love!

My goal is simple: may I find a way to bless, be kind, love my neighbor. May I find a way, a new role, even more jolly than Nessie the Wonder Dog.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

March 3, 2021

The Road is Shorter

Next Post

March 5, 2021 Just Tired (The Life of Nessie, the Wonder Dog)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to Paul, nothing in all creation can separate you from me—not death, not life, not angels or demons. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God's grace The love of God Salvation God's mercy

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »