(A Sacred Sandwich Repost) Garry Worth, a small group leader for Pemberton Methodist Church, recently apologized to his Contemplative Spirituality class for using a large-breed dog to help them learn about centering prayer. “My bad!” exclaimed a red-faced Worth. “When I was doing background research on Contemplative Spirituality, I found out that Richard Foster recommended the meditation techniques of St. Bernard. I just assumed he meant the dog breed. I didn’t realize he was talking about the 12th century Catholic mystic from Clairvaux.”

For the last three group meetings, Worth had borrowed a Saint Bernard named Max from a local kennel and asked his class to emulate the dog’s relaxed, contemplative demeanor as a way to get closer to God. Among the spiritual disciplines the group learned were: fetch, roll over, and play dead.

Despite the confusion, most members of the study group felt it was the most satisfying spiritual teaching they had ever received. “Max’s droopy eyes and deep, rhythmic panting certainly centered my energy and took me to a higher spiritual plane,” acknowledged group member, Sue Sheraton. “Of course, watching him lick under his back leg wasn’t so enlightening. That was just plain gross.”

Group leader Worth believes their short time with the lovable canine was misguided, but well-spent. “We gained some spiritual insight you can’t get from human interaction.” he maintained. “After all, ‘dog’ spelled backwards is god. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

Meanwhile, Max the Saint Bernard has been invited to be a featured speaker at the next Renovare Conference on Spiritual Formation. His topic will be “Inappropriate Licking: Pathway To Your Inner Dog.”