Lotus Flower

Had a hound dog following me on my walk this morning. Don't know who he belongs to, but his persistence was surprising. Can't imagine why a dog simply wants to follow along. But he did. I was worried about a car hitting him, but he stayed right behind me all the way out and back. Makes me think maybe it's time for me to get a dog of my own again. Such loyalty is a wonderful gift.---but not now----I'm still in the traveling mode.------My reading this morning gave me this: "Be like the lotus flower in the water; .....untainted by the world around you." I recall seeing the lotus blossoms out at Park Seed Co. around the time of the Festival of Flowers and being inspired by their beauty and simplicity floating on top of the water with the mud beneath "untainting" the blossoms. I've also seen them in the lake at Kanuga, near Hendersonville, NC. And probably other places, too. Reminds me of the admonishment to be: in the world, but not of the world (somewhere in the Bible) often quoted in spiritual works. Something I think about quite often.