Skip to main content

How Like My Dogs

             “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

This morning’s walk with Oh My Goodness Gracious! is meshing nicely with this passage. She didn’t do her wind up/wind down-run, run, run, or the pinball game that she sometimes does, but she flung herself on her back to be dragged through the grass, and she rolled onto her back on the road for belly rubs several times. And she did go to everyone she thought she could to get some attention. In other words, it was a grand morning for a walk and she was enjoying herself. The fact that a car or golf-cart could come down the road, or that someone could have hurt her didn’t enter her mind.

She’s like the oblivious characters in a movie who go along with their shopping, unaware that they’re being stalked.  Of course, if a danger were approaching, I would notice. I would get her out of the way. I’m the one who is supposed to have my eye on the bigger picture while she lives her doggy life.

None of this means that she’s oblivious – she noticed the cat, and the mockingbird that was on the ground. Then it was, “Reporting for duty!” but even then, there’s the tug on her leash that tells her, “Nope. Come on.”

And once again, I have to consider the parallels between my relationship with Grace, and God’s relationship with me. It’s my job to provide her with food, water, walks, and protection (even from herself.) I’m the one who gets to serve her royal majesty when “Bark!” (the water bowl isn’t full enough) or “Bark!” I want to go outside, or hop, hop, “Whine!” There someone I want to visit!” And I’m the one  who gets sulked at when she doesn’t get her way, or “Growl-Bark!” (Don’t touch/Stop combing!), or “Scream!” (Bath! I hate baths! (it only sounds like “Murder!”))

Like her, I go through my day, sometimes running in circles, sometimes chasing after whatever happens to be my ball at the moment (or the blowing leaf, blowing bag, little critter, or piece of palm tree.) I go through my life doing the things that I do without really considering the bigger picture. What does it matter how what I’m doing affects the life of another person? I’m busy being myself, and growling and snapping at those who tell me “no” or otherwise get in my way.

All of this illustrates that just as we humans see a bigger picture (or should!) than our pets do, and take actions they might not appreciate in order to take care of them, God sees a bigger picture than we do. I just need to be reminded how like my dogs I am.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more