Lessons From Walking a Dog
I took my dog for a walk one morning this week. It was the longest 30 minutes ever!
Kai is still a puppy, and I expect his attention to be a bit…scattered. But this walk was a record, even for him.
He chased every cottontail, every monarch, every lizard and cricket and ant. Even while he was chasing one thing, his eyes were wandering around for the next. He jerked and pulled on the leash - ahead of me, behind me, across the street, around the bush…
And the mailboxes…
And even a cactus.
Ouch.
I was frustrated and hot, and my elbow hurt from his constant straining. And I kind of started trying to figure out who I could give Kai to when my kids leave for college.
And then I decided to be spiritual about it, and try to come up with an object lesson. I figured the Lord could teach me something from any circumstance - even an impatient, distracted pup.
I thought about how sometimes I try to run ahead of God and go my own way. But He pulls me back and keeps me close every time.
I thought about how little, unimportant things distract me and hold my attention for way too long, but God has a way of turning my focus back on Him, whether that be a gentle reminder or a season of chastening.
I thought about how frustrating I must be to Him, when I get all tangled up in something I shouldn’t have been near in the first place, yet He is always ready to rescue me when I cry for His help.
Good lessons, I thought. I was pretty pleased that I had turned an irritating event into a meaningful lesson for myself. Kai and I finally made it home, and I went on with my day, never giving a second thought to all the “lessons” of that walk.
Two days later, I took Kai for another walk. And guess what happened? The exact. same. thing!
I’m not even kidding! It was like a perfect repeat of the first walk, complete with distractions, chasings, tanglings, and a cactus. Unbelievable! I don’t think Kai even lifted his head to look at me or to see where we were going the entire time. Just constant flitting about with every little thing.
After a few minutes of fuming, I resumed my “spiritual” thinking and tried to review the lessons from earlier in the week. As I stumbled along, pouting to myself, I kept thinking, “Hey, buddy, you think this whole hike is about you, but it’s not! I just want you to be my companion and friend. But you won’t stop long enough to give me a chance!”
And all at once it hit me. Those “sanctifying” lessons I was “learning” hadn’t reached my heart at all. I “knew” the lessons that God had brought to my thinking, but when I got home from that first walk, my behavior didn’t change at all. I rushed through my morning “quiet time,” all the while making mental notes of things I needed to do later in the day. I was constantly looking for the next thing to do, wondering what doors God was going to open (I had plenty of suggestions for Him!), and planning “ministry” without ever consulting Him.
Thankfully, through an uncooperative puppy, God drew my attention back to Him and helped me refocus on what is truly important.
God wants my spiritual walk to be WITH HIM, ABOUT HIM, and FOR HIM. Not about all the things I want to do. I’m not the one leading, dragging Him along for “permission” on every little thing I think would be profitable or fun.
“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
When I patiently walk beside Him, I never have to fear an injury from a prickly situation or a painful snare.
“Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
As my eyes are trained on Him, our friendship and fellowship grows sweeter, rather than harassed and hurried.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
I can rest in the truth that He is the One Who is leading me to the right people, opportunities, and situations.
“Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” Psalm 143:8
And I can trust that I will always arrive at God’s intended destination.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
Huh…who knew that walking a dog could be so enlightening?
While I can’t say that our pup has learned his lesson and is always cooperative and obedient while we are out walking, I can say that God has gripped my heart with these truths from His Word. What about you? May we all be responsive and submissive to the Lord’s leading in our lives.