What I’ve Learned About God From My Dog
March 23, 2011
This is my dog Lucy.
Someone found her in my neighborhood and she somehow found her way into my home about 3 months ago. I really couldn’t have asked for a better dog. She doesn’t bark. Doesn’t bite. Doesn’t kill my cats.
We go on walks every morning and night, rain, sleet, snow, sun, bitter cold or perfect, warm nights. I’ve learned to use this time to pray and think about my day and more recently see the parallels between how she and I walk and how I walk with God.
Sometimes she pulls the leash. She doesn’t know where we are going, but she’s really excited to get there and urges me forward often choking herself against her collar. How often do I urge God on and want Him to do something, anything? I want Him to move, but I don’t really know where the end result will be. I don’t look around or allow Him to lead me, I just want to get there now and in the end, I end up choking myself. I move too fast and don’t allow Him to replenish me or I want to get to the finish line and end up at the wrong place.
Sometimes she wanders off the path to explore and sniff. She has a 6 foot leash, so I know she won’t get far and give her a mild correction if she is stalling too long or wants to go too far off the course. Our lives are filled with great distractions: work, relationships, responsibilities, volunteering, Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday nights, and although most distractions are good things, if we get caught up too long in one spot we never move forward. If I focus too long on my job and the good and bad of it, looking at the problems and things that need to be fixed, I never actually do anything. If I focus on youth ministry and whether each individual service and production aspects that need to be fixed and how many students show up, then I never move forward. Just like my dog who will stay and sniff the same spot for what seems like hours, I can’t stay focused on the same issue. Sometimes God will give me a little jerk of the collar to get me moving and stay on the course. Whether it’s a patient that really needs my help or a student that needs to come over to talk things out, He will always move me on to the greater mission.
Sometimes she walks right by my side pacing with me. She anticipates my moves and turns and walks close to me, not straining or running to the side, but forward with me. These are the times that I really enjoy. Sometimes I get my walk with God right too. I’m moving where He is going and allow Him to lead me. I stay close to anticipate His next move and work towards the end goal. At these points I feel as though I’m walking with a friend who is pushing me on to great things.
Overall I love these walks with my dog. She’s great and is always willing to go where ever I want to take her. She’ll walk as long or as little as I want to go and does it with her tail wagging every time. I hope that I can grow to be as good on my walk with God.
How are you on a leash?
