Excerpted from I & Dog by Monks of New Skete, John
Sann, Monique Stauder (Photographer). Copyright © 2003.
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Here is a sampling of the wisdom found inside this amazing book:
"For many of us, love for creation deepens through the
relationships we form with our pets, particularly our dogs. By
their very nature and need, dogs draw us out of ourselves: they
root us in nature, making us more conscious of the mystery of
God inherent in all things."
"Dogs mirror us back to ourselves in unmistakable ways that,
if we are open, foster true understanding and change. Dogs are
guileless and filled with spontaneity: unlike people, they don’t
deceive. When we take seriously the words they speak to us about
ourselves, we stand face to face with the truth of the matter.
We must learn to reflect on these words—they are inscribed on
their bodies, in their expressions, in the way they approach and
interact with us."
"Though it is entirely natural for us to project human
motives onto dogs, ultimately this is unfair: it puts
expectations on dogs that disregard their reality. Dogs wander
in their own universe and resist being judged according to human
standards. We do justice to a relationship with a dog when we
honor it as it is—a dog, a creature who, for all we may
understand about it, is still fraught with mystery."
"The biggest problem with dogs is that they don’t live long
enough. They always seem to leave us when we’re most vulnerable,
most in need of their biased, affirming presence. Dogs make us
believe we can actually be as they see us, and it’s often only
when they’re gone that we realize their role in what we’ve
become."
With its tender message and delightful photographs, I & DOG
promises to reach beyond the page and touch the hearts of dog
lovers everywhere