God and Dog

Recently I saw a YouTube film that describes the similarities between a loving God and a humble family pet.* Both give unconditional love, forgiveness, faithful presence and joy. God is, of course so much more than that. God is the creator of the universe, redeemer of all, and empowering Spirit. God is ever present, all powerful, all knowing, and impossible to fully comprehend. And not every dog is a tail-wagging, faithful companion. Yet, we frail humans can grasp the essence of God in the word “love” and when we experience real love it is transforming. I Corinthians 13:4-5 reminds us that “Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious or boastful or arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.”

Dogs are often more loving than the people we know. In their humility and unconditional acceptance we can experience the love of God. I used to work with deaf-blind people, many of whom had seeing-eye dogs. These dogs were not only companions but also the eyes and ears of the owner. The bond between them was amazing. The key was the servant-hood, the humility and the faithfulness of the dog. Some of these dogs actually put themselves in harm’s way to protect their master when they were in danger.

This dog-like attitude remains the basis for all human cooperation and peace on earth: humility, a servant heart, forgiveness. It is disarming, it heals, opens doors of understanding, and it helps people who are different find a common bond. So…be a dog! Try it for a day and see how God can use you to warm up this cold, cold world.

*"GoD and DoG" by Wendy Francisco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY&feature=related