The One-Eyed Healer
Illustrations by Christine Steele
Gracie is my dog. Her love is sincere and powerful, but no healings have been reported yet. HaHa
A preacher traveled the countryside preaching at different churches until she could find a congregation that needed a full-time pastor. During her travels, she found a stray dog and rescued it. It was clear that this dog had been on its own for quite some time. The preacher could use the companionship and the dog could sure use someone to take care of it.
She gave the doggie a thorough bath, removed all the burrs from its coat, tended to the cuts on its ears, and rubbed its coat with an ointment that smelled of woods and berries. The doggie had lost one eye in some unknown way. It certainly had experienced a difficult life. But, the doggie was so gentle, never barked, and loved to cuddle and snuggle. She named the doggie Gracie.
At her first invitation to preach, Gracie stood beside her at the pulpit. Eventually, Gracie reclined and when Gracie yawned, everyone laughed and she knew it was time to stop her sermon. The people warmly greeted her and Gracie after the service. After receiving such nice hospitality, the next day they were back on the road again.
At the second church where she preached, Gracie started by her side but then wandered into the congregation. Gracie gave one person a great deal of attention and then moved to another person several rows back. After the service, it was reported that Gracie visited the people who were very moved by the sermon. Gracie seemed to sense their pain and emotions, and moved to comfort them.
At the third church, Gracie even jumped up on someone’s lap to lick away his tears. It was a very moving scene for all to see.
After the service at the fourth church, a man came forward to share that Gracie sat and leaned against this man’s wounded lower leg. He felt an intensely warm feeling in his lower leg and afterwards he was able to walk better.
The word spread far and wide that Gracie had been an extraordinary channel of grace with healing power.
At the fifth church, Gracie slowly moved through the congregation and several people reported afterwards that they felt better, most emotionally but a few with physical improvements.
After the service ended, a wave of townsfolk arrived at the church. They stood in line to spend time with Gracie. The one-eyed dog with cuts in its ears spent time with everyone in line. She sniffed them each individually. Her single brown eye gazed into their souls.
Gracie wanted some to pick her up so she could access their faces. For others, she stood on her hind legs to reach up to their knee or higher up to their thigh. To those in wheelchairs, Gracie climbed up on their laps.
Many reported an intense warmth spread through their bodies resulting in improved physical conditions. Others reported no longer feeling the need to cry about something from their past. Was it just the power of normal love? Or, was it extraordinary? The debates persisted.
Gracie was soon labeled “Jesus’ Doggie” in that town’s newspaper. Gracie and her master stayed in this town for a long time. People came to visit Gracie in the evening outside the apartment building where she and her master now lived. After Sunday services, people flocked to the church to visit Gracie. The town vet even asked Gracie to go on calls with him to sick cows and other animals. A few healed, but everyone felt better in Gracie’s presence. The gaze of her one eye was powerful, at least, in the sense that you felt that you had her complete attention and her complete affection.
Gracie, who once was homeless, now had a whole community who loved and cared for her. The debates continued as to whether it was the power of ordinary love or it was God’s love that flowed through Gracie. But, was love ever ordinary? Since “God is Love,” God must be involved somehow. Again, the debates continued. But, everyone agreed that it was love, regardless of how else you described it, and love is very powerful.
