Y Not I

Being devoted to G-d and serving Him are concepts that I am sure all believers understand at some level. However I think it possible that we really do not understand this concept as well as we might think. At least I am finding that true for myself. Recently I have been humbled in just how far off my devotion to G-d is, how poor I am at keeping G-d first, at focusing on Him, waiting upon Him and sitting at the feet of the Master, getting comfort from Him at all times. I have seen this type of love and devotion displayed and it makes me feel so inadequate at it. Who taught me this great lesson? Who has shown me the way I should approach my G-d, my Master and my Creator? Who’s behavior am I looking more to emulate in this manner? Why it is the family dog, Jillie.

This is a pretty funny thing, as I am not necessarily a dog person. Our dog is the family dog, more something for the kids than a companion to me. I have even had my run-ins with the dog, especially when we first got him and she created for me some difficulties to overcome, especially in terms of where she would do her personal business. Basically I see the dog as there and a small part of my life. However observing the dog I have been able to learn a great deal about G-d. I was working at home for awhile and had the opportunity to be around Jillie a great deal during that time.

I should note here that in searching the Scripture it does not seem like dogs have very many good things said about them. Philippians 3:2 says to beware of dogs and even though it is not referring to the animal it nevertheless offers uses the term in a negative term. I see that consistently through Scripture, even Yeshua saying He should not take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs (Matthew 15:26). So is there anything I can learn from my dog that is positive?

Jillie has determined that I am the alpha in the family. That seems to mean that she treats me in a certain way, as the leader of the group of which she is a part of. I had been working from home for most of 2008 and therefore I would be the only one in the house for many hours of the day, just me and the dog. I started to notice very quickly that she would follow me from room to room, place to place in the house. When I sat down at my desk, she would find a place just outside the door and lay there, only moving when I moved from the room. She would follow me around in circles if I chose to work around and around the kitchen table, seemingly never to question the logic of my action. If I was in my bedroom with the door shut, she would wait outside the door, basically as close as she could be is where she seemed to chose to be at most times.

Slowly watching this behavior pattern it dawned on my what a wonderful example it is of serving a Master. It seems like a great example of being a disciple. Are we not called to wait upon the Lord? (Psalm 59:9, Psalm 62:1, Isaiah 40:31) Should we not follow the Lord where He leads without resorting to our own logic? (Numbers 32:12, Joshua 14:8, 1 Samuel 12:20) Does not the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) use the word all 3 times indicating that God is looking for more than part time disciples?

What if I came to the Master and wanted to be at His feet as often as possible, if I would wait outside the door and follow Him around, without questioning? Would that not be totally in accordance with Scripture? How often am I using my own logic instead of trusting in Him? How often do I find myself in other pursuits instead of spending time in His Word? My dog found security in being close to me, whom she sees as her master, can I spend at least more time being secure in the arms of my Master?

I did learn one other thing about my dog during all this. She does not like the digital camera and getting her picture taken. The one thing I found that would make her leave my side was when I picked up the camera to take a picture of her to include with this post. So, while I think she could have maybe put her trust in a better master than myself, she does serve as a constant reminder of how much more I should be like a dog when serving my Master.

Coming to lay down outside my office

B”H