1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:09,359 Speaker 1: His pet Life Radio Let's talk pets. Welcome to Animal. 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 2: Rights on pet Life Radio. 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,279 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you're joining us today. We have a 4 00:00:13,279 --> 00:00:18,320 super exciting show today. We have author, writer and priest. 5 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,039 Speaker 1: William Miller coming on the show. 6 00:00:20,199 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: So I want to cut and something almost like three 7 00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:24,760 guys walk into a bar or something like that. 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 3: I don't know what it is, but we'll retalking to 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,960 Willie Miller a little bit about his book The Gospel. 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,600 According to Sam, it's the twentieth anniversary edition, so we 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,439 want to talk to him about a little bit about 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,840 that and how that all came about, and then. 13 00:00:36,759 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 2: What we should expect with the new anniversary edition. And 14 00:00:40,359 --> 00:00:42,159 then of course we'll chat with him a little bit 15 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,479 about writing and his writing styles and writing books and 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,159 writing articles all the wonderful things he does. So we 17 00:00:48,359 --> 00:00:51,039 have a lot of fun today. Everybody, hangtight. Will come 18 00:00:51,079 --> 00:00:53,920 back right after this commercial break. You're listening to Animal 19 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:55,479 Rights on pet Life Radio. 20 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,719 Speaker 4: You know the expression cats have nine lives? Well, what 21 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,640 if you can give them one more? But give them ten? 22 00:01:07,719 --> 00:01:10,760 Movement is on a mission to help give cats an 23 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,680 extra life. How with Spee and Neoter Spain or nootering 24 00:01:15,719 --> 00:01:19,439 your cat helps them live a longer, healthier life, and 25 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,200 it helps control free roaming cat populations too. Learn more 26 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,879 about the benefits of spee and neoter and meet Scooter 27 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,239 the neutered cat at give them ten dot org. That's 28 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,159 give them ten dot org. 29 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:43,359 Speaker 5: Let's talk bets on cetlife Radio dot com. 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Animal Lights on pet Life Radio. Joining 31 00:01:46,519 --> 00:01:50,040 me now is author, writer and priest William Miller. 32 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,239 Speaker 6: William you got to get you got to you got. 33 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,159 Speaker 3: To I was reading through your bio and I'm like, okay, 34 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,920 author writer, yeah as well, cool stuff, animal lover and 35 00:01:59,079 --> 00:02:01,719 why have a good Yeah, that's great. And priest, well, 36 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:05,599 hold on exactly which one of these does not belong? 37 00:02:07,599 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: Taking a test? 38 00:02:08,439 --> 00:02:11,319 Speaker 2: Oh my god, flashbacks to my sat so no. 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: Well, welcome to this show. We appreciate very much. 40 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 6: Thank you, Tim, thanks for having me. 41 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 3: Been looking forward to this absolutely and the leading We 42 00:02:22,319 --> 00:02:24,400 have a lot to talk about, but we want to 43 00:02:24,439 --> 00:02:28,199 talk mostly about the book The Gospel according to Sam, 44 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:33,319 the twentieth anniversary edition, So though it's a wildly popular 45 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:36,719 book when it was introduced, but some of the audience 46 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,240 may or may not know about it. And then let's 47 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,159 talk a little bit about the twentieth anniversary. I hate 48 00:02:42,159 --> 00:02:45,840 saying twentieth anything because it makes me feel even older than. 49 00:02:45,719 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: What I am. 50 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,719 Speaker 6: Sure, I get it, I get it. 51 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 3: So tell us a little bit about the Gospel according 52 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:52,879 to Sam. 53 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 6: Yeah. So, Sam Houston was my dog here in Texas, 54 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:03,719 and he lived in Austin and Houston, and he had 55 00:03:03,759 --> 00:03:08,479 a really compelling story, as all dogs do, but Sam 56 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,599 was particularly compelling. When he was a puppy, he was 57 00:03:12,879 --> 00:03:17,319 home alone in my ex's apartment and it was a 58 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,080 Sunday morning. There was a gas litek an explosion and 59 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,280 a fire in the apartment, and Sam was caught up 60 00:03:25,319 --> 00:03:28,840 in the fire, and the flame swept over him and 61 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:34,000 burned him severely and threatened his life. And Sam, as 62 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,840 most dogs are, was pretty smart, and so he immediately 63 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,439 ran hid in a closet, burrowed under some clothes, and 64 00:03:43,479 --> 00:03:47,360 started crying out for help. And because Sam was such 65 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,879 a loving, wonderful dog, everybody in the neighborhood knew him, 66 00:03:51,319 --> 00:03:54,719 and of course they heard the explosion, they heard him whimpering, 67 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:58,800 and so the neighbors did something rather extraordinary. Rather than 68 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:01,840 run away from the day, they ran right toward the 69 00:04:01,919 --> 00:04:06,280 danger and a couple of the guys next door kicked. 70 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: In the door. 71 00:04:06,639 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 6: One had a garden hose trying to put out part 72 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,599 of the fire. Another guy ran in, scooped Sam up 73 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,240 and carried him down the stairs to safety, and so 74 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:24,800 they literally saved Sam's life. And Sam was burned over 75 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:28,839 about seventy percent of his body. His ears were completely 76 00:04:28,879 --> 00:04:35,600 burned off, and he was not an attractive site for 77 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,519 a while. But more importantly, we weren't sure that he 78 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,720 was even going to live. And he was in dog 79 00:04:42,959 --> 00:04:46,759 Icu for a few days, and he got to come 80 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,279 home and the neighbors threw him a big, big get 81 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:52,759 well party and proclaimed him the mayor of their local 82 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,759 street there in Austin, and he was just surrounded by 83 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,079 so much love and care, and of course the popsicles 84 00:05:01,079 --> 00:05:07,639 didn't hurt either, and he healed up and got cue again. 85 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:13,279 But he became known as the Fearless Earless Airdale, and 86 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,079 his story just really began to spread, and that became 87 00:05:19,399 --> 00:05:23,639 the first story in a book that I imagined. And over time, 88 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,000 as Sam went through the seasons of his life and 89 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,279 I began to go through the seasons of my life, 90 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,600 I just began paying more attention to him, and as 91 00:05:33,639 --> 00:05:36,800 I would travel, I'd pay attention to animals all over 92 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,480 the world and the kinds of things that I was 93 00:05:39,519 --> 00:05:44,199 seeing and encountering. Whether it was a whale in Nova Scotia, 94 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,920 or a yak in Tibet, or a sea turtle in 95 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,160 Hawaii or a cow in Texas, it really didn't matter, 96 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,079 just paying attention to and enjoying and interacting with the 97 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,199 animal world. You know, there was so much to learn 98 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,839 and so many spiritual lessons that really began to sink in. 99 00:06:02,959 --> 00:06:07,040 And so all of those stories came together to create 100 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,120 the Gospel according to Sam, which is good news that 101 00:06:11,519 --> 00:06:16,480 whatever tragedy you might encounter in your own life, they're 102 00:06:16,519 --> 00:06:20,480 going to be good neighbors there, hopefully to rescue you 103 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,399 and to walk with you and support you. And it 104 00:06:24,439 --> 00:06:27,040 was just a great experience because over the course of 105 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,639 Sam's life, and he lived to be about twelve, everybody 106 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,160 knew who he was, they knew his story, and they 107 00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:36,160 would call out to him from their front porches or 108 00:06:36,199 --> 00:06:41,319 their cars or wherever he was, and wherever they were, look, honey, 109 00:06:41,319 --> 00:06:45,560 there goes Sam, the fearless, airless Airdale. And so it's 110 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,439 been a real blessing and privilege to share his story. 111 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,399 And now hard to believe we're on the twentieth year 112 00:06:53,519 --> 00:06:57,639 since the initial release, but the publisher was kind enough 113 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,680 to ask me to do some updates and write five 114 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,800 news stories based on some of the dogs that I 115 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,040 believe Sam has sent into my life over the years, 116 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,519 and so that's been a treat in the false sense 117 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,360 of that words as well. So we're just really looking 118 00:07:17,399 --> 00:07:22,160 forward to releasing this book in early October near Saint 119 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,519 Francis Day, which is a particular meaning to Sam and 120 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,560 to me, And so it's been a blessing. 121 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: Very nice, very nice. Yeah, it amazes me when reading 122 00:07:32,959 --> 00:07:34,879 through the book and listening to your comments. 123 00:07:35,079 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 3: It seems like there are so many things that come 124 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:37,800 to my mind. 125 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. First of all, we always love a good story. 126 00:07:40,439 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: About an animal overcoming everything, and we know our animals 127 00:07:44,079 --> 00:07:45,439 are our master teachers. 128 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: We learned so much from them. 129 00:07:47,839 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: But I love some of the comments that you made 130 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,360 was to me, correctly if I'm wrong here, it seemed like, yes, 131 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,279 you've always loved animals, and you love Sam to death 132 00:07:55,399 --> 00:07:59,720 even before the accident happened. But then after it happened, 133 00:07:59,839 --> 00:08:02,879 you would you say you had even a greater appreciation 134 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,639 and a greater in depth to really find out what 135 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:08,560 they're all about in animals of all sorts around the world. 136 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,319 Speaker 6: Absolutely, that experience with it, which I think a lot 137 00:08:12,319 --> 00:08:15,120 of people would view as a negative experience, and certainly 138 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,120 it was no fun for Sam and very scary for me, 139 00:08:19,399 --> 00:08:24,439 especially early on, but you know, it made me keenly 140 00:08:24,519 --> 00:08:30,079 aware of the blessing of having a dog and also 141 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:35,039 the resilience of animals. I mean, the two guys who 142 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,279 rescued him but said that when he got to the 143 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,200 bottom of the stairs, and keep in mind, he's burned 144 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,399 over seventy percent of his body, he's got to be 145 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,879 in pain. They said that tale was just wagging off 146 00:08:46,919 --> 00:08:50,480 the charts, you know, like, hey, I'm saved, I'm gonna 147 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,919 be okay, Thank you guys. And that became such a 148 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:59,039 powerful life lesson for me to pay attention to every 149 00:08:59,159 --> 00:09:04,200 aspect of life and to really lean in and depend 150 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,320 on those you count on and those who love you back. 151 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. 152 00:09:07,879 --> 00:09:10,639 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and keep your tail wagon. I think that's that's 153 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:11,600 the key behind it. 154 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:13,759 Speaker 1: Yeah. 155 00:09:13,879 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: I also love to comment you made about how Sam 156 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,039 has sent you other dogs your way. Expand on a 157 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,080 little bit more because I will say, you know, obviously 158 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,919 a very spiritual person. I've written many, you know, spiritual 159 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,519 type articles, and it's all about animals. So it doesn't 160 00:09:26,519 --> 00:09:28,519 have a dog, a cat, or some sort of animal 161 00:09:28,519 --> 00:09:28,799 in it. 162 00:09:28,919 --> 00:09:29,639 Speaker 1: I don't write it. 163 00:09:29,759 --> 00:09:33,799 Speaker 2: That's but you know, I do believe the animals send 164 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:39,840 other animals back to you for life lessons, future teachings, healing, 165 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,919 whatever it may be, as their purpose for coming into 166 00:09:42,919 --> 00:09:45,320 your life. I do believe those that have left us 167 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,279 in the past, made that transition, have sent the right 168 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,679 ones our way to help us continue our journey in life. 169 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:55,399 Speaker 6: I totally agree with you, and you know, there are 170 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,360 some who feel that, you know, animals lives as well 171 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,159 as human life are pretty much extinguished at the end 172 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,399 of our earthly sojourn. But I just don't believe that 173 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,240 there's something within an animal and within a human being 174 00:10:09,759 --> 00:10:14,240 that you can sense, and you know, I would call 175 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:20,120 that a soul. Sam certainly had soul, and I just sets, 176 00:10:20,399 --> 00:10:24,240 you know, his presence and really the presence of all 177 00:10:24,399 --> 00:10:27,320 the critters that I've been able to love and experience 178 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,559 that unconditional love and loyalty and forgiveness and all the 179 00:10:31,639 --> 00:10:37,200 spiritual things that animals seemed to grasp more readily and 180 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:41,639 sometimes more completely than we humans do. But it was 181 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,919 really funny. Sam was an Airdale. He was an Airdale terrier. 182 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,720 And when I was blessed to move to Hawaii for 183 00:10:49,799 --> 00:10:53,000 ten years, and when I got to the island of Kawaii, 184 00:10:53,519 --> 00:10:57,799 I had some friends back in Texas who created what 185 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,559 they called the Airdale Fund that I could find a 186 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,360 companion there on the island of Kawaii. And so I 187 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,159 went to the shelter and I went out back where 188 00:11:08,159 --> 00:11:12,039 the big dogs were, and there was a sign on 189 00:11:12,039 --> 00:11:15,679 one of the kennels that said Airdale. And so I'm, 190 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:20,080 you know, just overjoyed, and I'm thinking, you know, this 191 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,279 very regal looking dog, you know, who looks like Sam 192 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:27,000 except with ears, is going to come walking out. 193 00:11:27,519 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: Well, come to. 194 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 6: Find out later, in Kawhai, any dog that has facial 195 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:39,120 hair is an Airdale. So this guy looked about as 196 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,600 much like an Airdale as I do, although some people 197 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:45,759 think there is a similarity. But he was black and 198 00:11:45,879 --> 00:11:48,519 lanky and kind of goofy looking and had an ear 199 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,639 flopped on top of his head. But by that time 200 00:11:51,799 --> 00:11:55,519 already loved him. I already loved him and when we 201 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,399 took him out, I was with a veterinarian friend of mine, 202 00:11:59,519 --> 00:12:02,320 and all the shelter could tell us is that they 203 00:12:02,399 --> 00:12:05,519 found him on the road again. He was just roaming 204 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,840 down the road and Kawhii and they picked him up, 205 00:12:07,879 --> 00:12:10,559 and they think maybe he had been a hunting dog 206 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,679 who did not enjoy hunting. He was a lover rather 207 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:19,200 than a fighter. And so I named him a combination 208 00:12:19,519 --> 00:12:23,639 of Hawaiian and Texan now Willie Willie Nelson, And so 209 00:12:23,799 --> 00:12:27,159 he was my Kawhii ardale who did not look anything 210 00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:31,519 like Sam, but exhibited a lot of the same loving 211 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,879 canine characteristics that just make such a difference in our lives. 212 00:12:36,279 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: Right, But did he look like Willie Nelson? That would 213 00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:40,399 be a it's more. 214 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,039 Speaker 1: Like Willie Nelson. Did he look like Sam? I will 215 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,639 say that I love it. I love it. I talk 216 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:46,600 about this all the time. 217 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: I believe animals come into our life for a reason, 218 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,080 and you never really have to go out and look 219 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,919 for particular type of animal, or look for an animal 220 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,080 at all. When it's right, in perfect time, they present themselves. 221 00:12:58,639 --> 00:13:01,519 Speaker 3: And I love the fact. You know, I understand. I'm 222 00:13:01,519 --> 00:13:04,440 a former president of a humane society. So I understand 223 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,440 we get some dogs in that have a mixture of 224 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,279 things and we take, you know, the best, throw the 225 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:12,080 dark at what it is, and usually the names we 226 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,639 come up with, or you know, like you have eight dogs, 227 00:13:14,639 --> 00:13:18,159 you find something that a collection of eight stones or gems, 228 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,120 and you call them all all stones or gyms. But 229 00:13:21,159 --> 00:13:23,279 I do believe the sign was there for a purpose. 230 00:13:23,399 --> 00:13:26,360 Though in Hawaii they sort of label, as you said, 231 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:30,000 facial hair dogs as airdales. That the sign led you 232 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,720 right to him. You know, it didn't matter, you know, 233 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,519 he could have been an Airdale. But I do believe 234 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,360 it was the right and perfect dog for you, and 235 00:13:36,639 --> 00:13:37,879 that was your sign. 236 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 6: He absolutely was I and I may have not even 237 00:13:40,799 --> 00:13:43,080 noticed him had he not, you know, had the sign 238 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,759 airdale and that got all of our attention. But I 239 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:51,120 think you're so right. You know, animals find us and 240 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,639 they just show up in some way. It might be 241 00:13:53,759 --> 00:13:56,600 through a friend or through a post that you see 242 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:00,480 on social media. But I do believe they to you 243 00:14:00,639 --> 00:14:02,759 at the right time and in the right way. And 244 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,200 it doesn't mean that they are any more perfect than 245 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,399 we are as human beings. You know, they all come 246 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,840 with stories and some of those stories are challenging and 247 00:14:12,919 --> 00:14:17,399 have impacted some of their behaviors, but they all come 248 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,919 with with some gift, something to teach us. And that 249 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,799 has been my experience. All eight of the dogs that 250 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,519 I've been blessed to know and love have taught me 251 00:14:28,639 --> 00:14:29,679 valuable lessons. 252 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: I love that. 253 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 3: I love that, and I love the fact that you're 254 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,960 open to that. You know, I think I always say that, 255 00:14:35,039 --> 00:14:37,399 you know, humans and animals, we all have a purpose. 256 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,279 There's a reason for us being here, and we should 257 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,799 find that purpose and try to fulfill it every single day. 258 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,440 But as you stated, you know, animals are really good 259 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,080 at that. They know their purpose. If we allow them 260 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,240 to fulfill it, they'll do it. Us humans, well, we 261 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,600 spend you know, years in deep thought figuring out why 262 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,960 we're here, in thousands of dollars in therapy to try 263 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,600 to figure it all out, where if we just slow 264 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:00,200 down and shut up, we'd probably find it right away, 265 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:01,440 follow our dogs lead. 266 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:04,919 Speaker 6: It's so true we overthink it instead of just being it, 267 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,320 you know, as dogs teach us so. 268 00:15:07,399 --> 00:15:10,559 Speaker 3: Well, absolutely absolutely, all right, Well, we're going to take 269 00:15:10,559 --> 00:15:11,519 a quick commercial break. 270 00:15:11,759 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: We'll come back and continue conversation. William Miller to talk 271 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:15,840 to him more about the book The. 272 00:15:15,759 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 3: Gospel according to Sam, the twentieth anniversary edition, and also 273 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,200 want to talk to him about writing in general. So everybody, 274 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,519 hang tight, we'll come back writing for this commercial break. 275 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,120 You're listening to Animal Rights on pet Live Radio. 276 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: Hi, this is Tim Blink, animal communicator and pet expert 277 00:15:34,919 --> 00:15:37,960 and host of Animal Rights on pet Life Radio. Have 278 00:15:38,039 --> 00:15:40,480 you ever wanted to know what your pet is really thinking? 279 00:15:40,759 --> 00:15:42,960 You want to find out they truly understand what you're 280 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:44,879 trying to tell them, or wish you could build a 281 00:15:44,919 --> 00:15:47,879 better understanding and closer relationship with your pet, Well now 282 00:15:47,919 --> 00:15:50,759 you can. Learning to Communicate with Animals is a four 283 00:15:50,879 --> 00:15:53,519 part on demand workshop. In the workshop, you'll learn the 284 00:15:53,639 --> 00:15:57,080 essential techniques that are necessary to communicate with animals, including 285 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,159 what is animal communication, reading correctly to achieve the perfect state, 286 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,639 to communicate with your animals at a deeper level using 287 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:07,200 guided meditation, exercises and method to communicate with animals, and 288 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,480 how to send and receive information from your animals. So 289 00:16:10,559 --> 00:16:13,039 if you're wanting to learn how to communicate and connect 290 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,759 with your animals at a deeper level, visit Petlife Radio 291 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,320 dot com or slash workshop and purchase and download Learning 292 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:20,639 to Communicate with Animals. 293 00:16:20,679 --> 00:16:21,559 Speaker 1: You'll be glad you did. 294 00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:29,159 Speaker 5: Let's talk past, Let's done pest on pat. 295 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:30,519 Speaker 1: Life Radio, Hetline. 296 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 5: Radio, Petlight Radio dot Com. 297 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,919 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Animal Lights on Petlight Radio. Enue our 298 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:45,039 conversation with author, writer, and animal lover and priest and 299 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,279 a man of many, many talents. 300 00:16:46,879 --> 00:16:48,399 Speaker 1: And many worlds. Ease travel. 301 00:16:48,559 --> 00:16:51,039 Speaker 2: Of course we're talking about William Miller. Talked to him 302 00:16:51,039 --> 00:16:53,840 about his book The Gospel according to Sam, the twentieth 303 00:16:53,879 --> 00:16:54,799 anniversary edition. 304 00:16:55,279 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 3: So you mentioned before the you know, in the first 305 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,480 segment that you talked a little bit about the edition 306 00:16:59,519 --> 00:17:02,759 that's coming out, the twentieth anniversary edition, writing some new stories. 307 00:17:03,039 --> 00:17:05,880 How did you decide which of those stories you should 308 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,680 come up with? What was your was a reflection point? 309 00:17:08,759 --> 00:17:12,240 Had you already started writing some stories made for another 310 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:14,759 book something of this work? How did that come about? 311 00:17:15,039 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 6: Yeah, Well, I did write some stories several years ago 312 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:22,359 about my experience with not Willie, Willie Nelson or Willie, 313 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:26,559 and that book was called The Last Hallelujah, and it 314 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,880 was the story of our life together and a number 315 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,720 of the dogs that had come into my life. And 316 00:17:33,799 --> 00:17:39,000 so just picking up where Sam left off was really 317 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:44,000 a pretty natural thing, and so I started with the 318 00:17:44,039 --> 00:17:49,880 story of the Hawaiian Airdale because he immediately followed Sam. 319 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,720 When I moved to this place, you know, forty five 320 00:17:52,799 --> 00:17:56,279 hundred miles away, didn't know a soul, didn't have a friend, 321 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:03,880 and Willie appeared. And then over the years, as Sam, 322 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,720 I believe, would send these other dogs into my life, 323 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,640 I could just share some of the things that they 324 00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:12,920 taught me, some of the things I learned from them. 325 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,960 And then recently when I moved back to Texas. When 326 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,920 I first moved back to this little town called round Top, 327 00:18:20,279 --> 00:18:22,920 I lived on a We called it a ranch by 328 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,920 Texas standards, it's really not a ranch, but I took 329 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:31,359 a few liberties. We called it the Freebird Ranch, and 330 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:37,279 it was inhabited by the most beautiful multitude of winged 331 00:18:37,319 --> 00:18:40,480 creatures you have ever seen. And you know, we wanted 332 00:18:40,519 --> 00:18:43,440 to be good stewards of the of the land, and 333 00:18:43,519 --> 00:18:47,000 so we would put out bird seed and bird bats, 334 00:18:47,319 --> 00:18:53,200 and I began to appreciate the tiniest part of the 335 00:18:53,319 --> 00:18:56,839 animal world that I think I had overlooked for a 336 00:18:56,839 --> 00:18:59,480 long time. All of my dogs have been big guys, 337 00:18:59,759 --> 00:19:05,240 and so you know, to see such beauty and such 338 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:10,319 wonder in these tiny winged creatures, that provided, you know, 339 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:14,359 a whole different level and kind of inspiration. And then 340 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:18,720 I also reflected back because this is just an interesting 341 00:19:19,519 --> 00:19:23,759 Some might say coincidence, I would say, sarahendipity. But when 342 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,799 Sam was alive and I moved to Houston and Sam 343 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:31,519 was still living in Austin, the halfway point is about 344 00:19:31,559 --> 00:19:36,079 twenty miles from where I'm sitting right now, and that 345 00:19:36,279 --> 00:19:40,039 was the place where Sam and his little brother, Andrew 346 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:47,000 Jack Jackson were exchanged. And now here I am living 347 00:19:47,599 --> 00:19:51,759 just a few minutes from that sacred spot, because it 348 00:19:51,799 --> 00:19:56,039 really was a sacred spot when the animals are handed 349 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,680 off and you get to keep them for a short time. 350 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,319 And so one of the reflections is actually about meeting 351 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,559 at that halfway point and the significance of that, I 352 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:10,799 think in our culture, in our world and in our time, 353 00:20:11,079 --> 00:20:13,920 where we want people to come to us and come 354 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,839 to our view rather than meeting them halfway. And so 355 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:22,200 that became the next to last story in the new edition, 356 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,400 and it's a story that really spoke powerfully to me 357 00:20:26,519 --> 00:20:29,160 and I hope you know, to the readers. And then 358 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,599 the last story was really a little bit about my 359 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:37,680 own journey. I recently went through a breakup and I 360 00:20:37,759 --> 00:20:40,480 found myself for the first time in my adult life 361 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,359 without a dog. And that's a very difficult place to be, 362 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,519 especially when you're in a difficult place already. And then 363 00:20:50,559 --> 00:20:53,519 what do you know, A dog appears in my life. 364 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,680 And he is a dog who comes from the island 365 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,880 of Kawaii, and a friend of mine rescued him at 366 00:21:02,079 --> 00:21:06,079 just the time that I was beginning to think about 367 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,200 how much I needed an animal, and he's going to 368 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,400 arrive here in Texas the end of the month, just 369 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:19,680 before we release the twentieth edition, twentieth anniversary edition. And 370 00:21:19,799 --> 00:21:27,880 so that last story, which is called Lost Dog, Found Man, 371 00:21:28,759 --> 00:21:31,640 is really kind of my own personal reflection on, you know, 372 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,160 being in my own difficult place and then this lost 373 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,160 dog who was found I think it's going to come 374 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:39,119 here and find me. 375 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 3: I love it, love it, love the title. 376 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,079 Speaker 1: I'll look forward to that for sure. Thank you, Thank you. 377 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,480 Let's talk about them just writing in general. 378 00:21:47,519 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 2: Obviously been writing for quite a while and been Puttnam 379 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,240 multi published author. 380 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:53,799 Speaker 1: What is your craft? 381 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 3: What would you call your craft? I mean, I guess 382 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,240 I should phrase it. Are you a pitch it over 383 00:21:58,279 --> 00:21:59,519 the fence type of person? 384 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:00,079 Speaker 1: Are you? 385 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 3: You are writing in journals all the time? Once you 386 00:22:03,519 --> 00:22:06,440 get a book deal, are you five thousand words a day? 387 00:22:06,519 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 2: Do or die? 388 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 1: Or like me, I've got. 389 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 2: One week left and I got to get the same 390 00:22:10,519 --> 00:22:11,000 out the door. 391 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:16,519 Speaker 6: Yeah, deathlines are helpful, I think you know. So as 392 00:22:16,519 --> 00:22:19,720 a minister, I'm writing every week because I'm writing a 393 00:22:19,759 --> 00:22:24,519 sermon or a meditation or a reflection, and so I'm 394 00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:28,000 in the practice of writing, but I'm not necessarily in 395 00:22:28,039 --> 00:22:33,319 the practice of writing a book. And sometimes that's challenging 396 00:22:33,519 --> 00:22:36,200 in my life because I have a full time job 397 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,519 and a lot of creative energy goes into my vocation 398 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,640 as a minister, And so what I have to do 399 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:50,079 is carve out chunks of time in my schedule where 400 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,200 I can really get into a writing routine. I'm an 401 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:57,319 early bird and so I really I love to go 402 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,640 away for a couple of weeks at a time, and 403 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,799 I do journal and I am, you know, writing writing 404 00:23:04,839 --> 00:23:09,680 down stories and thinking about the world as I experience 405 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:13,359 it daily. And you know what those moments are trying 406 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,440 to teach me or what spiritual lesson they're imparting for 407 00:23:16,559 --> 00:23:20,440 me or my congregation, and so I have the material, 408 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:27,200 but then taking those spaces, whether it's being a part 409 00:23:27,319 --> 00:23:30,119 and then having that time off in a way. And 410 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,559 I just try to get into a routine where I'm 411 00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:35,759 writing every day, and I love to get up early. 412 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,519 I love to reflect and read a bit, and then 413 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:43,160 I try to write most of the day until about 414 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:47,039 three o'clock in the afternoon, and then I shut off 415 00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:51,400 my computer or close my tablet, whatever it is, and 416 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,119 I go get out in nature and just take a 417 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,799 walk or go for you know, a trip on a 418 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,759 kayak or whatever it is where I'm outside and just 419 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,480 my mind can can declutter a bit. But it really 420 00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:06,920 is about I think, discipline and routine for me and 421 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,480 just carving out that space and time. 422 00:24:09,839 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 3: Well there's you know there. I always say, there's no 423 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,039 right or wrong answer. You know, it's just a matter 424 00:24:14,079 --> 00:24:16,960 of yeah, you know, spend that time to the quiet 425 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,680 is a big part of it. I call meditation. Anything 426 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,640 allows your conscious mind to shut off, allows your subconscious 427 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,920 to open up. So you know, spending time. 428 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: In nature is a great way to do it. 429 00:24:26,279 --> 00:24:29,319 Speaker 3: Kayaking, these type of things wonderful, but there's no right 430 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,799 or wrong answer. I guess the only wrong answer is 431 00:24:32,279 --> 00:24:34,359 you know, if you're not getting your word out in 432 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,799 some fashion, then you know you're not sharing with others. 433 00:24:37,839 --> 00:24:40,440 So you know, get it out there, whatever it may be, 434 00:24:40,599 --> 00:24:42,599 and it will help you out as well as others. 435 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 6: Yes, and I think it's important, you know, to be 436 00:24:45,839 --> 00:24:50,240 consistently paying attention. And I find that having you know, 437 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,400 a little journal with me or you know, I can 438 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,480 even use my phone these days with technology, but just 439 00:24:57,519 --> 00:25:00,559 to write down that moment and that exp pos in 440 00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:05,519 that encounter before it's lost, and then go back and 441 00:25:06,039 --> 00:25:08,119 look at those and mind them and see how they 442 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,480 speak to you, you know, in a different time, in 443 00:25:10,519 --> 00:25:11,279 a different way. 444 00:25:11,759 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 3: Love it, Love it perfect well, everybody, keep your eye out, 445 00:25:15,319 --> 00:25:16,160 get your orders in. 446 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 1: Everybody. 447 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 3: Go pick up a copy of the Gospel Accord into 448 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,759 Sam and then pick up the twentieth anniversary copy, so 449 00:25:21,799 --> 00:25:23,839 you have a duel set on your book case. 450 00:25:23,839 --> 00:25:26,079 Speaker 1: It will be great shape. William tell us a little 451 00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:26,920 bit about where. 452 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 2: People can find out more about you, see what's going 453 00:25:29,279 --> 00:25:32,319 on track, what's happening within your world or with the book. 454 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, thank you, So I'm on social media. William Miller, 455 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:41,319 author and Sam has his own page called The Gospel 456 00:25:41,319 --> 00:25:46,599 according to Sam, and I'm on Instagram Cahunapadre one. And 457 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,960 then I have a website that will be relaunched very soon. 458 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:56,599 It's called fatherbill dot net and that has all the 459 00:25:56,599 --> 00:25:59,880 books that I've written, meditations that I've written, where I'll 460 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,799 be speaking, and different book events or concerts or all 461 00:26:03,839 --> 00:26:05,599 the things that I'm involved in. 462 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,279 Speaker 3: Nice we'll look forward to that for sure, all right, 463 00:26:09,319 --> 00:26:11,079 So everybody pick up a copy of the book, it's 464 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,920 The Gospel according to Sam, the twentieth anniversary edition, and 465 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,920 pick up all the other wonderful works that William Miller 466 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,640 has done. And we'll be doing so. Bill, thanks for 467 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,400 coming on the show. We really appreciate it. 468 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,519 Speaker 2: I'm excited to see the copy of the book and 469 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,720 look forward to hearing more stories and seeing what what 470 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:32,160 else Sam sends your way. 471 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: You never know. 472 00:26:33,519 --> 00:26:35,599 Speaker 6: And thank you so much. Tim. Thank you for all 473 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:35,880 you do. 474 00:26:36,279 --> 00:26:38,799 Speaker 1: You're welcome, You're welcome. Well, we're coming to the end 475 00:26:38,799 --> 00:26:39,480 of the show today. 476 00:26:39,559 --> 00:26:42,279 Speaker 2: I want to thank everyone for listening to Animal Rights. 477 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:43,039 Speaker 1: On pet Life Radio. 478 00:26:43,319 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 3: I want to thank the producers and sponsors for making 479 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,720 the show possible. I've got questions ideas or comments for 480 00:26:48,799 --> 00:26:49,119 the show. 481 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: You can go to pet Life Radio. 482 00:26:50,559 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 3: Dot com and we'll answer your questions, entertain your comments, 483 00:26:54,519 --> 00:26:56,119 and bring on the people you want to hear from 484 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,839 most And while you're there, check out all the other 485 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:04,480 workfol shows host. It's a cornucopia barking fun that's a Petlife. 486 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 2: Radio dot com. So until next time, we write a 487 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,000 great story about the animals in your life, and who knows, 488 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,599 you may be the next guest on animal rights of 489 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:13,480 pet Life Radio. 490 00:27:13,759 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: Have a great day. 491 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 5: Let's talk pets every week on demand only on Petlife 492 00:27:20,039 --> 00:27:34,160 Radio dot com.