Today I am sorry to have learned of the passing of a remarkable dog of some renown in the world of philosophy and theology, among other subjects. For those unfamiliar, allow me to briefly, if inadequately, explain how it comes to be that Roland W. Hart, of the household of writer David Bentley Hart, is of legendary status among canine creatures whose presence has served as essential inspiration, in addition to their day-to-day contributions to the simple enjoyment of living as we navigate a challenging world.
Although never having met them, I have always pictured Roland the loyal companion and inspiration sitting or lying near David as he composes his various tomes, serving as a mirror for feelings, quiet sounding board for ideas, and a paragon of higher presence, keeping DBH oriented to where the “ground” in ground truth resides. For those unfamiliar with the eclectic writing of this author, I will not attempt to characterize the depth of the subject matter he addresses, only saying that his key messages on subjects like existence, consciousness, and the eternal are often expressed in the way I personally need to hear them, inspiring re-reading, re-imagining, and investigation of the sources from which he evolved his thinking. Rich material indeed, and it is safe to assume that Roland, whom David has often referred to as sensei, has played an ongoing role in these expressions.
Roland has appeared regularly through the years in many of David’s works, most often serving as sagacious partner in dialogues addressing the aforementioned subjects. DBH depicts these discourses as taking place when he himself is in a dreamlike state, unable to discern whether Roland’s speech is actual or a result of a hypnagogic condition, his dog’s irrefutable wisdom tipping him toward assuming its reality. This is a clever approach, but how much of a stretch is it really? I can tell you from personal experience with my own writing that the presence of my dogs near me as I work greatly influences the outcome. One could claim that I project onto them, imbuing them with thoughts or emotions, but how different is that from our other relationships and inspirations? We regularly project onto friends, family members, co-workers, even strangers, and are in turn imprinted upon. This is part of the phenomenon of interaction. David sometimes inserts photographs of Roland into these essays, further imbuing the words of mentor Roland with a deep gravitas, his canine countenance displaying a centered wisdom. Roland’s influence is real, and his presence has surely shaped DBH’s productivity and perspective on certain subjects. Those of us who have been his readers, engaging in our own silent dialog with these two, have been affected also. Speaking for myself, The Experience of God and Roland in Moonlight, both by David Bentley Hart and presumably written with Roland at his side, are particularly meaningful.
And so, I wish to pay tribute to Roland, whose presence had, and still has, an effect on work that has influenced my own thinking. We are going to continue to feel his unforgettable aura. God bless Roland forever.