My last post communicated how I want to be like my dog in my devotion to God, getting up to follow God's lead, sitting and waiting when God does.
But I don't want to follow the way Roo follows. Because she doesn't actually follow. She walks ahead of me, although she wants to be going with me, she walks in front with her neck craned around so she can see if I'm still coming. With her head backwards, she often runs into things, since she's not watching where she's going, but watching me instead. Following would be much safer.
But isn't that how we often do? We say we want to follow God, but we get out in front, not really sure what direction God is headed since we are anticipating by running on ahead, yet since we're making sure God is coming along we aren't really watching where we're going either, and hence running into obstacles.
So much easier to just follow. If we fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) we can see the path and the leader and whatever is in our way. Maybe someday Roo will figure this out. Meanwhile she reminds me of what to avoid.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Dog-like Devotion
The week after Easter we lost our 14-year-old dog Sunny. Letting her go was gut-wrenching, she had been my loyal support through the unexpected death of my mother 12 years ago, just after we adopted Sunny, and had been "my" dog ever since. But her misery outweighed the desire to hold on, and we exercised mercy then buried her peacefully in the back yard.
With our kids all moved on and Roger gone that coming weekend, I experienced my first ever time in our house entirely alone. I actually handled it fine, but I definitely missed the safety factor of a dog. I am committed to my urban neighborhood, but I realized that I also feel much more comfortable here with the intimidated presence of a canine. So I began to shop for a replacement, feeling fickle as I did so.
Roger thought not having a dog to be a good solution, but I found a new one online at the local shelter. She had been surrendered by her family because they couldn't afford to keep her. I was glad they didn't just turn her loose, but felt awful she had been in the shelter since January.
As she bounced around our backyard that first night, we decided to name her Roo, as in KangaRoo. She's part black lab and seems to be part Ibizan Hound, having those ears. She's the perfect intimidator, quite nice to friend but ready to defend her property. Despite Roger's original hesitance, he affirms Roo to be a good fit for us.
When my friend Teresa heard the news, she said she hoped I'd get a good foot warmer. I've never had a dog who liked to sit on my feet, although Sunny would curl under my desk. But Roo does, and today she was curled up close to me while I was sitting in my prayer chair for some quiet time with God.
Someone created a lovely video comparing God and dogs, both being so faithful and encouraging. But today as I sat there I thought I'd like to emulate the dog's approach in my devotion to God. I'd like to be dog-like in craving God's company. Like Roo I'd like to crowd in close, not sure I'd have the nerve to sit on God's feet, but to be close by, and when God gets up to do something, to trot along to see how I can help.
I want to be still when God is still, wait when God waits, and act when God acts. Lord give me dog-like devotion to You and Your will.
With our kids all moved on and Roger gone that coming weekend, I experienced my first ever time in our house entirely alone. I actually handled it fine, but I definitely missed the safety factor of a dog. I am committed to my urban neighborhood, but I realized that I also feel much more comfortable here with the intimidated presence of a canine. So I began to shop for a replacement, feeling fickle as I did so.
Roger thought not having a dog to be a good solution, but I found a new one online at the local shelter. She had been surrendered by her family because they couldn't afford to keep her. I was glad they didn't just turn her loose, but felt awful she had been in the shelter since January.
As she bounced around our backyard that first night, we decided to name her Roo, as in KangaRoo. She's part black lab and seems to be part Ibizan Hound, having those ears. She's the perfect intimidator, quite nice to friend but ready to defend her property. Despite Roger's original hesitance, he affirms Roo to be a good fit for us.
When my friend Teresa heard the news, she said she hoped I'd get a good foot warmer. I've never had a dog who liked to sit on my feet, although Sunny would curl under my desk. But Roo does, and today she was curled up close to me while I was sitting in my prayer chair for some quiet time with God.
Someone created a lovely video comparing God and dogs, both being so faithful and encouraging. But today as I sat there I thought I'd like to emulate the dog's approach in my devotion to God. I'd like to be dog-like in craving God's company. Like Roo I'd like to crowd in close, not sure I'd have the nerve to sit on God's feet, but to be close by, and when God gets up to do something, to trot along to see how I can help.
I want to be still when God is still, wait when God waits, and act when God acts. Lord give me dog-like devotion to You and Your will.
Monday, May 6, 2013
What Really Matters
Yesterday we gathered in Lexington, Kentucky to watch the commencement exercises of the University of Kentucky, which happens to be my alma mater, and celebrate the accomplishments of my first born son Luke Howell.
As an alumnae of this university, and an avid Wildcats fan, I enjoyed sitting in Rupp Arena and admiring the sea of blue below, which included my son, draped with two sets of honors cords for his academic accomplishments.
What a relief to finally get to the ceremony, the traffic held us up for an hour, complicated by the rain. Thankfully Luke's girlfriend Mirna had saved us seats.
This traffic jam could have been avoided if we had planned our morning differently. The ceremony started at 1:00, and we chose to attend church first, partly because that's what we do on Sundays, give God his due in worship, and partly because we wanted to experience the church Luke has attended the last few years while in Lexington: Embrace.
The morning still could have been easier had we attended the service at the downtown campus of Embrace, where Luke usually worshiped. This congregation meets in the Kentucky Theatre on Main Street, and we could have walked to the ceremony and avoided the stress of the interminable line of cars.
However we elected to attend the newer campus of Embrace, where the founding pastor now preaches, partly to hear him, and mostly so Luke could say good-bye to the youth he has worked with at Common Good weekly. These were the youth he has poured himself into, most recently helping them with their fundraising talent show. He also wanted to see his mentor Trevor and express his gratitude for his support.
We had a special treat at this service, as a recent convert got baptized. Watching a new convert get baptized always qualifies as a special occasion. Seeing his joy at taking communion later added to the celebration. Being in Lexington the day after the Kentucky Derby and seeing the baptism take place in a horse trough added a hometown touch that I enjoyed.
We could have left sooner from this campus and been earlier to the ceremony, if it weren't for the fact that Pastor Roz called Luke forward to have the church pray over him since he was departing for the next chapter of his life. And that moment was worth all the stress of rushing to the commencement ceremony.
When the pastor invited the congregation to lay hands on Luke, the young men he has mentored rushed up the aisle and were first to reach Luke. John, the adult who has worked mostly directly with Luke and the youth group prayed for him. I stood with tears watching this holy moment.
We missed a bit of the ceremony in Rupp, but we saw Luke walk across the stage and shake hands with the President. But the real pride in this day, as much as I celebrate his academic accomplishments which he worked hard for, came in that moment seeing his legacy passed on to these younger men.
I am glad that in between studying and watching amazing basketball at UK, playing baseball on the club team and basketball with friends, Luke took weekly time to pour into others. That matters more than the degree he earned. I couldn't be more proud of that.
As an alumnae of this university, and an avid Wildcats fan, I enjoyed sitting in Rupp Arena and admiring the sea of blue below, which included my son, draped with two sets of honors cords for his academic accomplishments.
What a relief to finally get to the ceremony, the traffic held us up for an hour, complicated by the rain. Thankfully Luke's girlfriend Mirna had saved us seats.
This traffic jam could have been avoided if we had planned our morning differently. The ceremony started at 1:00, and we chose to attend church first, partly because that's what we do on Sundays, give God his due in worship, and partly because we wanted to experience the church Luke has attended the last few years while in Lexington: Embrace.
The morning still could have been easier had we attended the service at the downtown campus of Embrace, where Luke usually worshiped. This congregation meets in the Kentucky Theatre on Main Street, and we could have walked to the ceremony and avoided the stress of the interminable line of cars.
However we elected to attend the newer campus of Embrace, where the founding pastor now preaches, partly to hear him, and mostly so Luke could say good-bye to the youth he has worked with at Common Good weekly. These were the youth he has poured himself into, most recently helping them with their fundraising talent show. He also wanted to see his mentor Trevor and express his gratitude for his support.
We had a special treat at this service, as a recent convert got baptized. Watching a new convert get baptized always qualifies as a special occasion. Seeing his joy at taking communion later added to the celebration. Being in Lexington the day after the Kentucky Derby and seeing the baptism take place in a horse trough added a hometown touch that I enjoyed.
We could have left sooner from this campus and been earlier to the ceremony, if it weren't for the fact that Pastor Roz called Luke forward to have the church pray over him since he was departing for the next chapter of his life. And that moment was worth all the stress of rushing to the commencement ceremony.
When the pastor invited the congregation to lay hands on Luke, the young men he has mentored rushed up the aisle and were first to reach Luke. John, the adult who has worked mostly directly with Luke and the youth group prayed for him. I stood with tears watching this holy moment.
We missed a bit of the ceremony in Rupp, but we saw Luke walk across the stage and shake hands with the President. But the real pride in this day, as much as I celebrate his academic accomplishments which he worked hard for, came in that moment seeing his legacy passed on to these younger men.
I am glad that in between studying and watching amazing basketball at UK, playing baseball on the club team and basketball with friends, Luke took weekly time to pour into others. That matters more than the degree he earned. I couldn't be more proud of that.
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