Establishing The First Step

I'm about twenty eight hours into The Max Project and I've already realized the first step I need to take.  I haven't realized it until now, but I completely ignore this dog.  When I went into the living room last night after the official start of The Max Project, I decided to sit on the ground to pet and love on Max.  So, I did pretty good last night, but this morning when I woke up, I just walked right past him over and over and over again.  It hit me midway through my granola bar that I'm not keeping up with my challenge and that the norm for me is to just ignore him.  So, now I'm getting somewhere:

Step 1: Give Max Attention

After finishing my delicious granola bar, I stopped to pet Max and talk sweet with him for a few minutes.  I honestly think it confused him, but he didn't argue.  He wagged his crooked little tail and just loved on me while I spent some time with him.  I have to admit, it felt good to give him the attention he'd been craving all this time!  So far, I'd have to say The Max Project has been successful and I'm very excited by my positive progress!

The Max Project Defined

My name is Rick Kennedy and I have an idea.  This idea came to me after spending some time teaching at my local church.  You see, I'm an ordained minister, and I spend a lot of time talking with people.  Talking with people includes a few of the following activities for me; teaching, preaching, counseling, befriending and hanging out.  The main message that God has given me is to tell people that it's time to mature to the next level.  Too many Christians have become stagnant, and I hope to help motivate them and point them in the right direction.  I was trying to help a friend out who was having a very difficult time caring for someone, and I kept expressing to him that "we can make ourselves love, or at the very least, like, anyone if we try hard enough."  This challenged him, but it also challenged me.  That is where the idea comes in, which we will call The Max Project.

Let's define The Max Project real quick.  First, you need to know who Max is...

Max

...Max is a three year old Puggle(half Pug/half Beagle).  My wife and I have had Max for almost two years, and well, he irritates me.  I know it sounds bad for a minister to admit it, but it's true, I just don't like this dog!  Do not be fooled by his innocent looks and cute under bite, this dog is bad!  He destroys everything, sheds everywhere, constantly whines, always smells bad and I just have no patience for this dog.  The funny thing is that he loves the snot out of me!  He follows me everywhere and wants me to pet him.  I've almost given him away three or four times, but I just can't because of Jehu, my Scottie, and Gwyneth, my daughter.  Jehu and Max are inseparable, they are the best of best friends.  I know you're not supposed to pick favorites, but Jehu is definitely my favorite.  Then there is Gwyneth, my ten month old daughter.  She absolutely loves Max!  She likes to sit right by him to pet his belly and rub his ears.  Max will just lay there too, and won't even scratch her.  So, Jehu and Gwyneth are Max's saving grace.

The Max Project is going to be where I prove that I can like, even love, this dog.  I know this seems easy since he already loves me, but this is where I'm going to start.  I can't even explain to you how much I do not like him, but starting today, I'm going to try to like him.  I'm going to pet him more, play with him, love on him, hug on him and anything else I can do to warm my heart up to his.  I'm also going to try and renew my mind by capturing every bad thought I have about him like the Bible says we are supposed to do.  This isn't just going to be a journey for my dog and I, but this is going to be a spiritual training exercise for myself.  If I can change my heart to love a dog that already loves me, then I will become a little stronger in my resolve to deal with people who are just unlovable.  So, starting now, at 4:55 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010, The Max Project begins...