By Peter Akpokodje, Lagos, Nigeria
Recently I have been thinking about the reason we exist in this world. I kept the thought lightly on my mind. I wondered, What is love? What is my purpose?
I attended an online spiritual study class organized by Eckankar, where a friend of mine mentioned that we express love by giving service to life, in one way or another. That immediately struck a chord in my heart. It was a Golden-tongued Wisdom, an intuitive nudge, for it was just what I needed to give me an insight into what had been on my mind. His words made perfect sense.
The message had further impact when I awoke in the middle of the night a few hours after the class. Our family’s dog, Diva, a Lhasa apso, was barking outside. Diva is a devoted family member who never lets her size limit her love.
When I heard Diva barking, my mind was quick to assume it was the usual: the neighbor’s cat had come for her nightly tussle with our dog. But my wife, Jaiye, woke up and asked me to check on Diva.
Indeed, the barking continued and felt like a calling for me to help. I went outside and saw her water bowl was upside down and empty.
Diva was super excited to see me—wagging her tail, jumping about. This was before I had even gotten to the tap to refill her bowl with fresh water. She drank and drank. While I observed her, I suddenly thought, Could divine love be just this? That we give service where it’s needed?
I realized the Holy Spirit uses each one of us to do sometimes big but often simple acts of love. We only need to listen with our hearts to catch the opportunity. And the bark of a thirsty dog is a way for Souls like Diva, my wife, and me to communicate and understand. In time and with love, the mind accepts that it all comes back to love.
—Photos by Peter Akpokodje
A Contemplation Seed
You are invited to reflect on the spiritual messages in this story by contemplating on this passage from Touching the Face of God, by Sri Harold Klemp: 
Spirit will work with each person, with each one of you, in a way that is right for you.
What a lovely story–so simple, but carrying such an important insight into life!
This is an example of how God’s love is hidden in places we often do not think to look.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience with your cute pet!
Thank you for posting this simple communication between your dog and you. It reminds me of all of the times I have gone outside to our pool porch at a time when I don’t normally go there and for no reason at all and found a lizard in trouble swimming so hard against the sides of the pool and not able to get out. I have found insects in this predicament also. Frogs and toads at different times.Sometimes I find a dragon fly up against the top of our screen roof and are trapped and need help getting out.
Again, I want to say that there was no reason for me to go out to the porch at that time except “something” made me go there to find these creatures in trouble.
One by one as I find them in trouble I find a way to rescue them. They seem so happy and thankful to be out of their predicament. Insects fall into the category of Animals are Soul too.
Yes! Being of service to all of life can be the simple daily acts of kindness in our everyday lives! Thanks for sharing! Baraka Bashad!
Rich-Portland,OR
This is awesome…. Thank you so much
This was just what I needed.
Thank you PETER
It all comes back to LOVE
accepting and giving this
endless, wonderful gift
Our boxer is going lame and she needs constant help to get around the house now. We have a wheel chair for her when outside. Mostly she just likes to stand in the wheel chair and watch what’s going on. We have to wrap a scarf around her belly to help her up and down the stairs. She’s managing as best she can. Often she will struggle to drag her hind end to the kitchen or to stand up on her wobbly back legs.
So often these gifts of love are invaluable to those animals who can’t help themselves. She’s happy and her well being is that’s all that matters to us.
Thanks for sharing such a insightful experience. MTBB
hEARd. hEARt. Thank you.
After reading the story,an inner still small voice which I recognize as the Voice of Divine Spirit, the still small voice of the MAHANTA the Living ECK Master, Sri Harold Klemp,the Spiritual Leader of ECKANKAR-the Path of Spiritual Freedom,the Universal Spiritual Guide and my personal Spiritual Trainer said:
” THE HEART HAS EARS”.
I never read nor heard those words before but I related ot to what Peter wrote that we can listen with our hesrts,so our hearts have ears of love.
Thanks all ,Peter and family for the beautiful story.
Just beautiful…
Very touching history.
It really is that simple.
Thanks for sharing Peter,
You welcome bro.
Nice photos ! It says all !
Lovely story. Thanks for sharing