Trick Or Treat

The dogs I house-sit for often teach me meaningful spiritual truths.

When the two dogs are out playing, running or wrestling, and it's time to come in, I will start by calling for Henry. Henry is the youngest and most apt to listen to my voice. 

The dogs have long since understood that I am the master, the alpha dog, and obedience is rewarded for those that respond. Yet even with that understanding, the dogs seem to wrestle with the decision to obey, much like we, as humans, struggle with that on a regular basis. 

When I call Henry, I do so by name and tell him to come. He stops what he's doing and looks right at me. That immediate response raises my hopes for a return. But then he looks at Cassie, the older larger dog, who is bounding off through the grassy acreage in pursuit of greater pleasures. Henry will then look back at me and then again at his older mentor and then bound out to meet her.  

After a few attempts he finally responds to my commands and he and Cassie come inside. But it is not without taking a few moments to decide if he wants to obey or not. 
 
There is a lure for independence and the desire to be the one to call the shots in even the animals we seek to govern. We house them, feed them, love them, accept them, want them, and have rules for them to follow because we want to protect them. There is a treat that awaits them upon obedience. But they often see my call to them as a sort of trick to lure them into my control and away from their freedom and enjoyment.  
 
There is a decision to be made here for more than just the animals in our care. What would you choose?  To believe God's care for us is a trick or accept the benefits of obedience?   Trick or treat...



copyright 10/25/2015