I just love him. He's special to me because he came to me after prayer as a delight to my heart.
He's special to me because he once belonged to a friend and mentor, Rose MacAlpine.
He's also special to me because, in so many ways, he's a good and faithful dog.
On Fridays, because my workweek begins on Sunday, I take Sabbath rest. Today, I was curling up on the couch to have quiet time and, of course, Charley was absolutely thrilled that he would be able to curl up next to me.
Then, I forgot my pen. I got up and, although I told Charley to stay put, he was SO anxious to be wherever I was...he followed me. After I got settled again and realized I forgot my iPhone. Before you dismiss this as ridiculous (why does she need her iPhone during quiet time?) know that I subscribe to devotionals that are sent to my iPhone so I can hear the Word anywhere and anytime. So I went downstairs and, although Charley really wanted to continue his cuddle time on the couch, he followed me...just in case I wasn't coming back. When I returned, he hopped up ready again to snuggle and nap.
So, I opened my journal and first asked God what He wanted me to consider today. And, again, my mind focused on Charley as I felt wonderful gratitude for him.
I worried that I might be horribly distracted; but then I realized then that it was Charley and Charley's attitude that God wanted me to consider in my heart and mind.
My friend Greg Swan encouraged me to read a favorite book of his, 'Dog and Cat Theology.' The book contrasts how dogs and cats relate to their owners. A dog says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.' A cat says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.' The authors Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison encourage us to consider the God-given traits of cats ('you exist to serve me') and dogs ('I exist to serve you') to challenge our own attitudes about our relationship to God.
So here I am, telling God what I notice about Charley and observing the attitude that God is gently asking me to adopt and embrace.
Charley is pretty much singularly focused. He eats and drinks to survive and he does his level best to go outside to poop; (that's another story, entirely) but truly his world revolves around that next moment that he might get to spend with his master.
Charley is not content to just know that his master exists and is somewhere in our home. Charley MUST be WITH his master.
Charley's ideal location is touching his master. If I am sitting on the couch, Charley does everything possible to be lying next to me. If I am using the computer, Charley hogs the chair so that he can be WITH me. (Here is a picture of Charley waiting for me to return to my computer time.) If he gets too warm, he moves a further distance away; but remains where he can see me.
This is a picture of dogged (yes, pun intended) determined devotion.
And I must say as I sit here in my chair typing away I feel Charley's breaths become long and full and I observe that being with his master must be the place where Charley feels most peaceful. I really do think his "joy is complete" John 15:11
Charley's chief concern in life is abiding with his master. And when our family is away at work and school, I imagine that he looks forward to the next moment he can abide.
And now I realize why God would ask me to look closer at Charley.
I find myself convicted that dogged determined devotion is not always the picture of my life.
And I praise God that He is patient and kind and shows me these pictures of what my life can be by abiding.
I remember that I spend a lot of time in "do-do". Not Charley's kind, but the kind where I run around trying to please God by what I DO for Him instead of waiting for Him to show me where He is and simply being WITH Him. (see John 15)
Wow.
And what about Charley's master? What can be observed and recorded as I think about my relationship with Charley?
I love Charley. It's a deep love. Pet owners understand this love. Those who have not chosen to have pets generally don't understand the depth of this love. And some who have not chosen to enter into this kind of relationship make fun of this love. This makes me want to encourage more people to become pet owners.
I want the best for Charley.
I smile just thinking about him. I talk about him. My friend Jeanette and I trade stories about our Charley dogs (she has a small dog named Charley, too.
When Charley obeys, my smile widens and I say to him "good dog". It's clear that when I call Charley "good dog" he feels greater contentment.
When Charley does not obey, I feel disappointment. I try to clean up the resulting mess. (There is almost always a mess associated with Charley's disobedience) Sometimes the mess is un-fixable and it serves as a constant reminder of Charley's disobedience; but it doesn't change how deeply I love him.
Instead, Charley's disobedience makes me want to spend more time teaching him how to behave, praising his obedience and pointing out the peace that results from his obedience.
I'm grateful that He loves me (His love is DEEP and difficult for those who do not know Him to understand) and I realize how much He wants me to abide with him. I realize how much I want EVERYONE to know and experience this love. (see Romans 10:13)
He wants the best for me. (see Jeremiah 29:11)
I think about how my breathing is short and shallow when I am in "do-do" mode and how I am at "perfect peace" (see Isaiah 26:3) when I am in super close proximity to where God is at work and I am focused on Him, ready to serve.
And I think about the sweetness of someday being with Him and hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (see Matthew 25:23)
