It’s The Passover Beagle

As my friends are about to celebrate Passover, I am having fond memories of my beagle, Colbie, who a few years ago found her way into our neighbor’s home and became a guest at their Passover Seder.

I remember the phone call. “We have your dog,” the voice said. “Elijah is here!”

I was confused. I had only just let my dogs outside, so surely they were all in my yard. And, well, I didn’t have a dog named Elijah, nor was the reference clear to me at that moment. Surely this was a mistake, right?

Unbeknownst to me, a tree branch had fallen along our back fence the night before, creating an opening that she easily found. And in keeping with the spirit of the holiday – the celebration of the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt – Colbie was liberated from the confines of our back yard. And off she went to explore the happenings in the neighborhood… when she came upon an open door of a neighbor that I had not yet met.

According to Jewish tradition, Elijah the prophet is expected to arrive during Passover as an unknown guest to announce the coming of the Messiah. And on this particular evening, true to scripture, Colbie made her grand entrance through the front door and settled in for the feast and celebration. There was much puzzlement around the room as to whose dog this was, when it was finally determined that she was their awaited guest.

This story so fittingly summarizes Colbie’s life. She embodied the spirit of adventure, of love, of living, of peace and especially of forging new friendships. To her, there were no such things as strangers. While she may not have heralded the coming of the Messiah, she was certainly the Messenger of Peace and the Seeker of Friendship.

I wish a happy Passover to those who observe it, a happy Easter to those who celebrate it, and a happy spring and happy trails to all!