The Messenger of the Sea

Oreo and nephew Gabriel and human Dad Pierre

I was priviledged to spend 3 years serving a small remote community in Northern Labrador. While there I was lucky to have a team of dogs. After 3 years I choose to leave the community. My lead dog Oreo died May 5th, 2018 at home, surrounded by her beloved pack. It was difficult but peaceful all at the same time. I wanted to share this story about difficult time in my life when Oreo was my messenger of the sea. I wroter it to honour an amazing dogs memory and everytime I read I feel sadness and joy all at the same time. I hope it may bring a glimmer of joy to you too, during a dark time. This is a repost from 2018, that I find myself sharing time and time again.

The Messenger of the Sea

Everyone says water is healing. It surrounds us in the womb, and can heal us as we soak away our aches and pains. I think part of the magic of water is because it can be mesmerizing. When you stand by the cold, dark ocean, if you watch the tide long enough, it mentally engulfs you. It takes over your mind and your soul. It seems to wash away any pain or hurt you may be experiencing. The sounds and smells take over your senses and transcend you into a world of total and complete emptiness. That is the place you need to go to feel peace. You can travel there anytime if you allow the sea to enter your soul.

I remember one encounter with the sea. It was an early morning in Labrador, Canada, when the sea came a calling. I lived in a tiny Inuit village, engulfed by the cold Labrador ocean, totally isolated from the rest of the world. The messenger of the sea was my sled dog Oreo. She had gotten loose from her post down by the ocean at 4 a.m. The village had strict by laws about dogs and my dogs had to be chained on in a designated area by the sea. It seemed however, that Oreo could get loose whenever she wanted, and it was always early morning, just before sunrise. That magical time of the day.

I think she was the messenger of the sea, and somehow knew my soul needed to find peace. I was going through a lot of struggles at the time and I felt peace when I sat by the ocean with the dogs. My Mom was dying and I could not be with her, I had a difficult job, and I was in an unhealthy relationship. As I walked Oreo back to the water this particular morning, I noticed how peaceful the village was. This morning was no different than all the others. The sun was starting to rise. The water was quiet and the tide was starting to go out. When we both arrived at the shore, I bent over to tie her on and she gently licked my cheek. I smiled and I swear she did too. As I stood up, I heard a soft ripple in the water. I looked over my shoulder and saw a magnificent tail sticking out of the water. It was a large whale, and just feet from us. The dogs and I quietly looked in awe at this magnificent creature of the sea. We quietly appreciated the grandeur and beauty of the shared moment.

It was mesmerizing and for a moment all was right with the world and I was at peace with nature.

The dogs did give up their rough home by the sea and moved to a beautiful kennel, in the country, surrounded by farm land. That was many years ago and I am many years older and the dogs have all passed on. Even though life became less stressful for all of us, after the move, we often thought about our days by the Labrador Ocean and the peace I felt when I stood there. Even though they could not really tell me, I know they remembered too, that day when Oreo was the messenger of the sea.

I hope during a dark chapter in your life, you too can find a moment of joy. 

thanks for reading, take care nancy xo