Cascade Courier - Your trusted local news source since 1910

You've seen him. Perhaps you've even talked with him. He's a gentle soul who walks the streets and trails around Cascade, accompanied by his faithful companion of ten years, Sage. He and Sage have a special connection, a special bond; one that began with tragedy.

Ten years ago, on Oct. 11, 2013, he was in a boat with his father on the Clark Fork River near Milltown.

As the two were negotiating a diversion in the river, his father flipped over and was dislodged from his boat. After floating downstream for a few yards, he saw his father slip under the water. He recovered his father out of the water and brought him to shore where he performed CPR until emergency crews could arrive.

Life Flight, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office and Missoula Rural Fire all responded while the son continued to perform CPR on his father. He was Life-Flighted to St. Patrick Hospital where he was declared dead.

Father and son had been very close, and the tragedy sent the son into a deep depression that led to substance abuse. He was in a dark place and it seemed like nothing could pull him out.

That's when a friend of his brought him a puppy from a litter that had been born on Oct. 11, 2013. It was Sage, and she became the miracle that God used to help him heal. And God continues to work in him.

Psalm 30:11-12 says:

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;

You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy,

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come - 2 Cor. 5:17

When he walks into church on Sunday mornings, he walks in full of joy, contagious joy, and full of love!

Yes, Sage is so special to him that she walks with him everywhere. Just this past Wednesday, they both walked into church while I was singing to our youth group. I'm not kidding, but Sage walked right up to me and started singing (howling) right along! God is good!!!