DOGS, CATS, AND AUGUST ADVENTURES

I was reading a previous blog this morning entitled, “I’m sorry Mrs. Elwood, but you have cancer”, when it came to me: August has often been the Lord’s chosen month for revealing His glory to me through some amazing faith adventures!  It was in August, 2004, that I was diagnosed with cancer.  It was the end of July into August that I went on my first mission’s trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  And it was in August of last year that I donated a kidney.  Interesting, huh?  That leads me to share a book.

 “Dog and Cat Theology”, by Bob Sjorgren, was featured in a workshop I attended at my yearly Tuscarora Retreat earlier this month.  The author begins by describing dogs and cats like this:

·        A dog says: “You love me, you feed me, you take care of all my needs – YOU must be God”.

 

·        While a cat says: “You love me, you feed me, you take care of all my needs – I must be God”.

The author also cites something I had never heard, but those who have had dogs or cats as pets might confirm:  Dogs have masters.  Cats have staff.  Funny, huh?

As I write this our cat Pippin is sitting at my feet boring holes in me with his eyes.  He’s trying to get this member of his staff to provide “something”, although I haven’t figured out yet what it is.  It’s too early for his dinner, too late to share my lunch, so what else could it be?  I have no idea, but I’m sure it requires MY doing something for HIM. A dog would undoubtedly just gaze up at me with complete adoration.  Back to the book!

The interesting part of the book is when the author ties in his observations about dogs and cats to Christians.  He explains that some Christians are more like dogs.  They recognize all that the Lord has done and they become worshipers - completely enamored with the goodness and greatness of the Lord.  For them, it’s all about HIM.

Other Christians are more like cats.  They also recognize all the Lord has done and they are blown away by those things.  For them, its proof that God’s blessing is all about THEM.  Not a wrong view, says the author, just an incomplete one.  And he says, accurately, I think, that many of us are much like cats, but we long to be dogs.

Thinking about those August revelations of God’s glory reminds me of how much I want to be a DOG!  I want to look at those experiences and recognize God’s greatness!

What did I learn about Him in our August adventures?

·        His strength is made perfect in weakness.  When I am most physically, emotionally or spiritually weak, and yet, I carry on – it’s God’s strength on display! 

·        He is Jehovah Shalom, “Prince of Peace”.  He “owns” peace.  His peace transcends the natural.  His peace is supernaturally activated in those places where our natural default would be FEAR.   Who could DO that but God?

·        He is the God who Sees.  He sees those we often overlook and invites us to BE Jesus to them so they too can see His glory.

·        He is omniscient. He knows where to find the kidney of a 35 year old in a 66 year old person and then He calls that person to share it with someone else.

·        He has a voice and He calls His own by name.  Sometimes He calls them on “not to be missed” adventures. 

·        He allows His children to go through deep valleys so that He can reveal Himself to be the Almighty One, Comforter, Ever Present Help, and Healer.

When I act like a cat, I think He did all those things just to bless ME.  When I’m acting like a dog, I realize, He did all that so He could bless me, but more than that, He did all those things so that I might SEE and WORSHIP HIM and BRING HIM GLORY!

I wonder what new glories of God’s work and character He will reveal THIS summer.  I can’t wait to see, so I can share them with YOU!