I grew up with dogs and I've wanted one for years, but my wonderful wife was never so excited about it as she did not grow up with dogs and she likes her house to be in order. Puppies and houses in order do not go together very well! But, alas, on my last birthday she surprised me and told me that she was getting me a dog. I was completely shocked, but thrilled. After spending a lot of time looking at rescuing a dog, we still ended up getting a little Westie (West Highland White Terrier) from a breeder. I decided to call him Father Murphy because of all the Irish jokes that I've heard that started, "And so Father Murphy went into a pub." (Never mind that Westies are Scottish!)
Of course, the first order of business is to housetrain the puppy. Remember what I said about the house being in order! Even though I've been around dogs a lot in my life, I've never actually had to completely housetrain one. I always thought that it looked easy enough with the basic idea that you just keep taking him outside to go and when he does you praise him. Eventually he gets the idea that going outside is a great idea and going inside is a bad one. Sounds easy, right?
Well here we are almost a month into the whole ordeal and ole Father Murphy just took another leak on my bedroom floor after just having done the same thing outside a half hour before. Every time that we think that he is getting it we are clearly shown that he does not quite get it just yet. My wonderful wife is basically at the point that she thinks that he never will get it.
Of course, this does remind me of ourselves in relation to God. As a pastor I'm constantly trying to work with people spiritually and just when I think that they are getting it then they take a leak on my bedroom floor. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean. And then I think to myself, "Will they ever get it?" How self-righteous of me! I think that way and completely ignore the fact that I'm not getting it either; as if I've got it all together.
When we see people we must see them for who they are, and that is loved by God and made in his image. I don't have it all figured out and neither do you and we won't unless we have Jesus and then one day we'll be in glory. Then it will all come together. Not because I finally figured out, but because God finished the work in me that he had started from before the foundation of the world.
Of course, the first order of business is to housetrain the puppy. Remember what I said about the house being in order! Even though I've been around dogs a lot in my life, I've never actually had to completely housetrain one. I always thought that it looked easy enough with the basic idea that you just keep taking him outside to go and when he does you praise him. Eventually he gets the idea that going outside is a great idea and going inside is a bad one. Sounds easy, right?
Well here we are almost a month into the whole ordeal and ole Father Murphy just took another leak on my bedroom floor after just having done the same thing outside a half hour before. Every time that we think that he is getting it we are clearly shown that he does not quite get it just yet. My wonderful wife is basically at the point that she thinks that he never will get it.
Of course, this does remind me of ourselves in relation to God. As a pastor I'm constantly trying to work with people spiritually and just when I think that they are getting it then they take a leak on my bedroom floor. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean. And then I think to myself, "Will they ever get it?" How self-righteous of me! I think that way and completely ignore the fact that I'm not getting it either; as if I've got it all together.
When we see people we must see them for who they are, and that is loved by God and made in his image. I don't have it all figured out and neither do you and we won't unless we have Jesus and then one day we'll be in glory. Then it will all come together. Not because I finally figured out, but because God finished the work in me that he had started from before the foundation of the world.
3 comments:
This reminds me of a friend who adopted an abused dog from neglectful friends. She though that after several years of ownership the dog would quit running away from her just as she was ready to leave for work. Alas, every maddening morning that she chased Caesar through back neighborhoods, my friend tried to remember that she too ran regularly from the One who cares for, clothes, and shelters her under His wing. And how faithful is God to chase us down every single time and bring us home again!
I was reading this morning the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) and thinking about that in relation to my own life. As an adult convert, I suppose I could say that if I were a worker, I would be one who was hired in the sixth hour.
So I'm imagining myself there, in the vineyard, at the end of the day, waiting to be fairly paid for my toil by the owner. And he gives me exactly the same amount he gives those who were working so hard before I even knew there was work to do, and the same as the ones who had only worked one hour.
And by putting myself there, I can see why the early workers complained, I really can. They worked so much harder than I did, why aren't they getting their fair share?
But I'm realising now that I ought to just be thankful that I was called to work at all, because the alternative, doing nothing, is more comfortable, but will never be glorious to Him. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few and I'll get what I was promised.
And so will every other worker in the vineyard, no matter if I've peed on their floor, or they've peed on mine. ;)
Sorry, that obscure comment above was mine. Signed in under the wrong account!
Sweet Grace. I am eternally thankful for thee! :)
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