This may sound strange, but I have learned a lot about God from my dog.Goldie, our yellow lab, has been part of our family for eleven years now, and typical of her breed, she loves exuberantly and with abandon! When one of her beloved humans comes home, she dances and spins with joy, so much so that I sometimes wonder whether she'll achieve lift like some kind of furry helicopter.
I have often seen her extravagant and constant devotion to us, her masters, as a guideline for what my devotion to my own Master should be. Normally I feel great passion for God, but if I don't, Goldie is there to remind me what it looks like!
Goldie also gives me glimpses of what God feels for us. As extreme as her love is, it's a distant blip on the radar screen (if that) as compared to God's passion for His children. And Goldie's fidelity, constancy and devotion are no match for God's character as played out in our lives.
The Gospel of St. Luke (chapter 15) is a great place to read about the Creator's great love for His creatures. Jesus shares parables that show God's grand efforts to bring His children home and the great rejoicing in His heart when they come.
This morning I stood on the deck and saw Goldie below in the yard. When I whispered her name, her tail began thumping and she came to see me. God waits for my whisper and will respond with joy when it comes. May I never forget that, and may I always listen for and respond to His whispers to me.
