Dog Days

Mocha was a big, strong, black and brown German Shepherd with reddish brown eyes and huge white teeth.  She had an animated nature to go with her rather intimidating appearance. In reality Mocha was quite friendly, but her exuberance was often misunderstood by strangers. 

One evening I was working in the yard.  Mocha was lying in the front yard of our daughter’s house, two doors down from us.  Mocha was chained to a 4x4 support pillar on the front of the house.  She was resting comfortably in the warm sun until the neighbor’s cat sauntered across the lawn in front of Mocha.  Mocha took off after the cat barking furiously, just as any self-respecting dog would have done.

Mocha was so powerful and had so much doggie adrenaline coursing through her veins, that she snapped the post off the porch and dragged it behind her.  With the heavy chain and post in tow, the excited dog headed into the neighbor’s garage where the offending cat had disappeared.

Right at that moment, the neighbor arrived home to the uproar.  She took one look at the boisterous dog in her garage, quickly sized up the situation, and refused to get out of her car.  To her, Mocha looked like the Hound of the Baskervilles.  Hearing the commotion, my son-in-law raced out of the house like he was leading the Charge of the Light Brigade. 

As soon as Matt was present, Mocha quickly and obediently settled down.  The neighbor lady was grateful to be rescued, as Matt commanded the disorderly dog to go home.  The whole incident came to an uneventful ending. 

After the episode with Mocha unfolded, one particular line of thought turned over and over again in the recesses of my mind.  What would our life look like if we pursued God with the same dogged determination, the same passion, the same focus?  In what ways would our behavior change?   Would we be less judgmental?  More open to helping others? 

Erwin McManus writes in his book, The Barbarian Way:  “It is difficult to meet the Creator of the universe and remain unchanged.  If the God who is all-powerful and all-present comes to dwell in your soul, you would expect at least a minor disruption.  I think there is a problem when people talk like they know about God yet remain unchanged by God.  He is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses.  He does quite the opposite.  He awakens your spirit to be truly alive.” 

Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the things that so easily hinder our progress.”  Scripture is clear that the key to our passion must be purpose.  When we have purpose, we don’t look at Christianity as merely a pleasant distraction or a positive influence.  Purpose gives us a meaningful faith that is significant, real, and natural. 

My prayer this week is that no matter what kind of a load we are dragging behind us, we will passionately and purposefully allow God to direct, or redirect, our lives - and do it as naturally as a dog chases a cat.    

Blessings,

Pastor Mike