apparently Lassie was busy this day...

Jason Moser and his dog, Autumn            On a hot 4th of July day, when people had their minds on picnics, parades and a day off from work, there were instead many people who went in search of a little 5 year old boy named Scotty, who wandered off of his family's farm in rural Wisconsin in near 100 degree heat. As volunteers tireless searched for him and as the sun slowly descended, fears turned instead to the unknown: "what if...?" Enter Jason and his dog, Autumn. He also joined the search team, knowing that all who participated were hindered by one fact: Scotty was autistic and couldn't speak, therefore, he couldn't also call out when he heard people calling his name. This fact didn't stop Jason and Autumn from going over ground that had already been searched many times. As folks lined up in rows, combing the corn fields, Jason checked a ravine almost a half mile away. Autumn found Scotty there, bug bitten, scared and thirsty--but alive! The reunion was nothing short of miraculous as the crowds cheered, hugged and cried over the safe return of a precious child. I thought about the "what-if's" myself. What if Jason had chosen to use his holiday to be lazy. Let someone else find the kid! But he didn't. What if...There are so many what-ifs, it boggles my mind. I give thanks to God, as did so many others, that the one person who found him was one who gave up his own interests in having a good time to find one child. Oh...by the way, did I tell you the punch line? Autumn is NOT a search and rescue dog. She is just a much loved pet who, when her owner told her to "go find Scotty," she did. What promptings did they have to go in the direction they did? Was it gut instinct? An urge to check out an area one more time? Or was it a Higher calling, whispering in the dog's ear to go find him HERE? We may never know, but I do know this: Dog is GOD--spelled backwards. Think about it!