We have had our dog, Hildegard (a name that corresponds to both theology and the world of classical music if you are curious about its origin), for about 5 months now. And in that time, we have spent a lot of time walking the sidewalks in our neighborhood. More so than most dog owners actually, as we do not have a fenced backyard for her to frolic in. This means that about 4-5 times a day, we leash up Hildy to go out for a stroll so she can get some exercise and participate in other "refreshing" activities. Most times, this is a nice break as it gets my wife and I out from in front of the TV/Computer. However, when it is cold like this, it gets kind of difficult. Let's just say there have been many games of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock to see who gets to put on their heavy jacket and freeze while the dog ignores your pleas to do her business quickly.
Anyway, spending time out with the dog does have its pros and cons. Thankfully, there are more pros than cons. Especially when I can turn on a sermon podcast and lose myself in the Word while the dog snuffs around. On one such day a few weeks ago it was 60 degrees (before plummeting to 25 the next day. Colorado, you got to love our weather) and we were having a very nice walk in the park just north of here. While Hildy ran ahead, I listened to a sermon podcast from Menlo Park Presbyterian's John Ortberg that pondered how grace connects us and brings us closer to God.
It’s odd how sometimes the things we are listening to mirror what is going on in our lives. At that point, I too was holding a literal connection to another living being. And as I walked, watching Hildy dart to and fro, I realized the leash I held operated very much like grace. I know the comparison of grace to a leash will make some people shudder. It is by far not a perfect metaphor, and indeed this entire illustration breaks down very easily under scrutiny. Yet it does present us with an interesting image and some good lessons about the aspects we typically associate with grace.
As a Methodist, I believe grace is an unmerited, unearned Divine love and favor that follows us everywhere even if we are not aware of it. In this, grace is fairly leash- esque because it is a constant tie that works to draw us nearer to God. Ideally, this relationship draws us in to be closer to God and neighbor. But, as we all know, this is not always what happens on our walk with God. We are very doglike in this manner, as we weave back and forth. Sometimes we are going forward and other times backward depending upon the nature of the path, the obstacles in front of us and the actions of people around us. For the most part though, we do stay on the sidewalk within easy distance of our Master. But this is usually short lived because there are so many things that force us off the path. Sometimes we are chased by another dog or a section of the path has been washed out. Or we leave of our volition because we catch a stray scent that entices us to charge off the path to investigate.
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| Believe it or not, she is buries herself like this. I am sure there is something Biblical about it. |
Hildy is a big fan of doing this. She is part terrier (or
maybe one of her parents was a wire brush, we cannot be sure), so she has that
individualistic, hard-headed quality so common in dogs of that breed. As a result, when she charges
off, she charges off full bore after the rabbit or dog (often much, much larger than her)
who she feels is threatening her turf. Whatever the case, she runs away not
really caring what her master thinks. Most times, this does
not cause too many issues. The rabbit always sees her coming and takes off, or
the other dog is behind a fence. But other times, it becomes a very sticky
situation that causes our connection to be strained. I can think of a few times
she has gotten caught in a row of bushes, or wrapped around a tree. Or other times she ends up straining at the end of her lead, poise to fight another dog.
In these cases, I picture her screaming at the offender in a fake Scottish
accent, but that is beyond the point. What is really is important is when this happens,
she is trapped and isolated from me. And in the worst case scenario, she could get
badly hurt from the things she is doing.
But the leash never breaks.
The connection remains no matter where she goes, so she can
find her way back to me when she realizes how pointless her fight with that
evil wiener dog was. Even if she gets stuck, the tie still binds us and when
she whines, or looks at me with those pitiful, big brown eyes (dog owners know exactly
what I am talking about), it melts my heart and I come a running down the lead to help.
In this manner, our God does the same
for us when we get stuck. Or as the Apostle Paul puts it in Romans 8, "Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No
power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all
creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is
revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Put differently, no matter what rabbit or illusion we chase; no matter what
barriers of our own making keep us from being with God, Grace always remains.
Then when we return, we remember how much easier it is to walk beside the
Master. It offers us safety, protection and the joy of companionship. I am
hoping that Hildy learns this in the months ahead, because I often grow tired
of mediating whatever predicament she is in. I also hope that I learn how to better
adhere to the path, because I stray too much as well. Thankfully, God’s energy
never runs out and is always there to rescue me. I am so blessed because of
this, as I pray that I exist in this crazy world of ministry that I may find
ways to stay closer to God so I can help gather the other “dogs” who are out
there.
So where are you in your walk? Where is the leash that holds
you? Just some questions to ponder if you find yourself chasing rabbits this
day.
I hope all is well, my friends.
