10 August

Visiting Red. Capturing The Unseen

by Jon Katz

I went out to visit Red at new grave, and I had this impulse to bring my infrared camera because it is my most mysterious and surprising camera. It sees what the human eye can’t see, it sees the unseen.

I never know what the picture will look like until I see it in the computer, it works on a higher spectrum than the human eye and focuses on warmth and light in a way film and digital photography can’t.

I suppose I was hoping for some sign of light or some other mystical signal from Red, I haven’t quite got my head around the idea that he is gone. People keep telling me he is still here, and so is his spirit. Maybe my camera could pick that up in some way. Perhaps it did, and I am just not yet open to it.

I’m generally a literal person, I believe what I can see, not what others see. The storm clouds that so suddenly appeared were beautiful, but I can’t divine a message there for me.

But there was this. As I stood by Red’s grave, near the apple tree in the pasture, a storm came sweeping in from the South, the sky got dark, the clouds angry and ethereal.

And I will be honest, I did feel this was a signal, not necessarily from Red, but from somewhere – I couldn’t say where.

I think the sky reflected the emotions churning around inside of me, and if what people say is true, and Red is actually an angel, then he could do whatever he wanted with the sky.

But I can’t say I believe that is what was happening. That is beyond my spiritual ken. There are people who claim to know about these things, I can’t, I just don’t know.

Sue Silverstein, a friend, and the theology teacher at Bishop Maginn High School, and a deeply spiritual person wrote this after she saw the photograph on my blog:

At the top of the sky in the photo, where the angels dwell, there is light and peace. Above all the darkness and pain that had come to be. He can see now and he has no pain. Some believe he will come back as another animal. The Native Americans have such a legend. I’d say that will be a very beautiful animal if it’s true.”

I do sometimes believe that the energy inside of us affects what is around us. Maybe we see what we want to see, and need to see. It is out of my normal thought range to think the sky appeared just to speak with me, I hope I stay humbler than that.

Still, it was a special moment. The photograph gets to me.

Good brings good, anger spawns anger. I have to look at this photograph a while to understand it if I ever can. I guess the word that keeps coming back to me is emotion. There was a lot of emotion in the sky.

Perhaps it was as simple as that.

6 Comments

  1. I had the good fortune to have had and loved 3 BCs. I can’t write quite as eloquently as some, but I loved those dogs with my whole being. They are gone now, but they live on in my heart and memory. I talk to them still and will until I am no more. The love of a Border Collie is unlike any other. God bless Red, and May he continue his work in Heaven wrapped in God’s loving arms.

  2. Red was a magnificent dog, devoted to you and to his purpose. I have followed him through your blog since he came to you and believe you were the best owner he could have had. His legacy will be long-lasting and his spirit will always be looking over your shoulder on Bedlam Farm. Bless you and Maria, for being the very unique and special people you are.

  3. Before I even read your narrative, I clearly saw a cross across Red’s grave. Perhaps my computer??? Am I projecting? I don’t know but I keep going back to look again and it jumps out at me. I’d focus on the sky but then go back to his grave site and there it is! And that is what I thought your blog was going to be about! The cross over Red’s grave. Bless you all.

  4. The word that came to mind when I saw this photo was “stunning” The picture is eerily beautiful. Red was a stunning dog filled with good and beauty. Soar with the angels Red !

  5. Jon, I see a huge dog’s face (Red) looking down over the tree and grave site. The white clouds are Red’s white fur, and there appears to me to be eyes on either side of the tree in the sky. Each of us will find meaning in this photo, but for me, I see Red watching you from afar…..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email SignupFree Email Signup