The young boy walked past the pet store, gazing in the window, when his eyes locked eyes with a fantastic German Shepherd. Hearts were joined in that moment, and the boy resolved to do whatever it took to be able to take that dog home with him. He named the dog Sabo, and his every thought revolved around what it would be like to have that dog in his home. The boy’s parents and grandparents discouraged his desire. But the boy was determined and met with the pet store owner. With some careful negotiation, the boy agreed to work for the man in exchange for the dog. After school and on weekends, the boy was in the store, cleaning animals and cages. Even though it took months, it felt like mere moments and his work was completed. Finally, he could take Sabo home.
As he walked into his house with Sabo on his heels, his family met him in the front room to discuss this new family member. When the boy looked at Sabo, all he could see was the world’s most perfect dog. In this meeting, his siblings and parents showed him all of the dog’s flaws. They discussed how the dog would grow to an unmanageable size. The longer they talked, the more embarrassed the boy became regarding this obvious loser of a dog. With bitterness of heart the boy took the dog back to the pet store. Unfortunately, the store had a no return policy, and the boy was even more discouraged and confused on what to do next.
The only solution the boy could come up with is to lock the dog up in a room in the basement. There the dog grew from puppy to full grown dog. Sometimes the dog would bark and whine, but after being ignored, he was silenced and forgotten. The boy often wondered about Sabo. He wondered what Sabo could have become if given the chance. His family convinced him to let sleeping dogs lie. Forever, Sabo lived in the basement, untried, and of no use to society. Sabo could have been a protection for the boy as he grew up and ran into bullies. Sabo could have been a friend during the difficult times of transition. None of that ever happened.
Many of the men and women on the streets have a dog in the basement.
When you see them huddled on the sidewalk or pushing a shopping cart, you don’t see much value in them. But we simply don’t know what potential rests inside of these men and women. As we get to know them, we may discover genius. There are those who have locked up inside of them talents to cook, sing, play sports, or solve complicated life problems. Something in life has forced that value into the basement of their existence.
If we, those of our community, could get to know these men and women, we might discover what they have hidden in their basement. Taking time to have discussions, to listen to them, and spend time with them as one person to another, they might even show us the key to the room hiding Sabo. Even when we are shown the key, it may take more time to help them have the courage to open that door. The mind has often created a monster out of Sabo. While he was simply a cute puppy when he was put in the room, in the imagination, he is now a wild, angry dog that will do great damage.
That actually may be true as well.
History records that at one point, Adolph Hitler was a bum on the streets. A starving artist, the dog locked up inside of him was somehow released. The world was plunged into war. So, there really is danger in the effort. However, for every Hitler there are thousands of men and women who are desperate for freedom and will use that freedom for the forces of good. When they are released, they will cure cancer, bring us justice reform, or create the world’s finest hamburger.
