Expectancy

The sweetest thing I’ve seen in a while happened last week when I was preaching in Pickens County, Alabama. Some mornings, I would meet host pastor Tommy Winders and another preacher or two down at the diner for breakfast. The first time Tommy told me about it and how to find it, I said, “What is the name of the cafe?” He looked puzzled. “I don’t know. It’s just the cafe.” Translation: it’s the only one in downtown Carrollton, Alabama. I found it without any trouble. Its name is “The Diner.”

The first morning as we exited the diner, two large dogs met us on the sidewalk. Now, where I live, dogs don’t run loose and my first reaction was to step back inside. But Pastor Tommy knew these animals. He said, “Hey, you guys are supposed to be around back.” And off they went, just like that, their tails wagging.

The second morning, I had parked at the bank’s lot on the side of the cafe and as I was leaving the car, I noticed those same two dogs with a buddy standing guard at the rear of the cafe, their tails swinging. While the other two held back, the leader of the bunch walked up to the back door and looked up expectantly. After a moment, he said, “Woof!” That’s all. Just “Woof!” One time, nothing more.

In a minute, the door opened and the cook tossed out some breakfast leftovers. I thought, “Boy, these dogs sure have the humans trained.”

I have not been able to erase that image from my mind—the dogs at the back door, tails a-wagging, and one of them calling to the kitchen to announce their presence.

Here’s the cartoon of that scene with my comment. Feel free to post it or reprint it.

Click for a larger version


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3 thoughts on “Expectancy

  1. Joe,

    The cartoon made the Pickens County Herald and the owner of the diner had to show it to me when I was there Wednesday morning. She is so proud of the cartoon and that one of her patrons drew it.

    Thanks again for helping put Pickens County on the map. People are still talking very favorably about the Senior Adult Revival time.

    Stay in touch.

    Tommy & Diane

  2. I guess that we have indeed “gone to the dogs”. but as you describe it–that is not so bad. Thanks for sharing your gifts and graces with us. We talked about your report regarding Franklin Ave this morning at breakfast.

    Gary Farley, dom

  3. Joe: Enjoyed the story very much. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Also enjoyed the cartoon.

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