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SOMETIMES YOU SEE GOD'S SMILE

© Joy Butler

Have you ever been in the middle of an especially trying day when someone, unexpectedly, gave you a smile that lifted your spirits? It's a wonderful experience, but did you know that smiles can come in different forms?

Now, if you love concrete and crowds, hustle and bustle, then you would love Houston. I, on the other hand, crave at least small patches of nature in my environment and have always surrounded myself with animals. I love to look into innocent eyes and wind my fingers through soft fur. I'm the kind of person who considers time working at the pet shelter to be my time "off". The cold glare of towering brick structures, the choking exhaust fumes and harsh roar of city traffic leave me tense and anxious.

Nevertheless, occasional trips into the city are a necessity. On one such occasion, I fought my way through aggressive traffic, miles of construction, searched out my destination, and found myself sitting in a waiting area in one of those cold, glaring brick structures of Houston.

I looked around at the stone faces in business suits, staring stiffly ahead or into a briefcase. The receptionist had been detached and impersonal, though courteous. Even the severely padded gray chair in which I sat seemed cold and impersonal. I felt the strain of unfamiliar surroundings, of the artificial atmosphere and dreaded the hours ahead.

I tried to remove myself, at least mentally, by leafing through a magazine, when the heavy oak door opened and, from the corner of my eye, I saw something that made me take a second look. The LAST thing I expected to see in this luxuriously sterile business office in downtown Houston was a dog! But there she stood-a beautiful, shiny black Lab.

She wore a leather harness and my eyes traveled up the arm grasping that harness, to the face of a blind lady. They made their way to the window where the stiff receptionist sat and, after a few words, took a seat near me. The dog rested at the lady's feet.

I felt a strong impulse to reach out to that gorgeous animal, but I knew that working dogs should not be distracted. Then it dawned on me that, in the waiting area, the dog was not actually working and perhaps it would be alright if I asked to pet her. I introduced myself to the lady and then apologized, saying that I knew working dogs should not be petted, but would it be alright if I petted her while they waited.