There have been many Labradors in my life. The current one has to be the softest of all. I have had hunting dogs that have braved deep snow and sub-zero temperatures for the chance to hunt. They have been bloodied by ice, thorn bushes, and the occasional wild animal. Emma would probably not go hunting in such conditions, or would volunteer to guard the lunch if she did. Her idea of roughing it is sleeping on the floor. It’s my own fault, I suppose; she is the first Labrador house dog we have had. She doesn’t understand much of dog-dom.
Emma is one of the smarter dogs I have had, though, and certainly one of the most compliant. But we do have problems from time to time. Case in point: Emma is fussy about where we walk. Our neighborhood is surrounded by dozens of streets that do not have sidewalks (I know, what’s up with that?). So from time to time Emma and I are forced to walk on the sides of narrow streets with cars whizzing by us at 45 MPH. Complicating matters is that our part of the country has cultivated an incredibly annoying weed that produces a seed known locally as a “goat head.” I’ve never seen a “goat head” plant, but their seeds are everywhere, and they are the most vicious thorn I’ve ever encountered. Goat heads have chosen to be the arch enemy of bicycle tires and dog paws. Get this; someone actually imported this annoying plant because they believed it might benefit idle cropland. I would like to see a cost comparison of the fertilizer saved versus the number of the bicycle tubes and tires the average family purchases each year. My guess is we are averaging fifty-seven tubes per acre because of this obnoxious stuff. Anyway, goat heads gather at the side of all roads (every last stinking one of them), and where there are no sidewalks, they share the space where bicyclists, pedestrians and dogs must travel.
Owing to experience, Emma’s greatest times of rebellion occur during those stretches of roadside without sidewalk. When forced to walk with me off of the road, she leans against the leash hoping to keep two paws on the pavement. She is unreasonable and totally unrepentant in this behavior, and completely oblivious to the difference in mass between a goat head and a speeding car—her grasp of elementary physics is, well, deplorable.
Anyway, in her mind, she knows better. I can see the wheels in her head grinding away; it’s a very simple algorithm for her: “road and sidewalk = no goat heads.” There are no other variables to consider. Further, she thinks I’m the imbecile for not getting the equation. I’ve actually seen Emma shake her head in disgust. What she does not know, however, is that there are other variables to consider—important ones. Thorn punctures are annoying, but the recovery time is much faster than the damage one might encounter after being run over by a beet truck, or even a tiny Kia speeding to school. This attitude of “knowing better” may ultimately lead to her downfall. One day her collar might be too loose and with one poorly timed jerk of the leash . . . she may meet her maker.
Perhaps you see the analogy. Our experience, our learning, our mentors, our friends, and a whole host of other influences have informed our thinking about a lot of things. We may have practiced this knowledge and “proven” it. “Aha, there are no goat heads on the middle of the road!” We build convictions about our knowledge and choose to live by those precepts and convictions. But some of them are wrong. Some of them do not account for all the variables. Our algorithms are too simple. Pride keeps us mired in our own thinking. It is pride speaking, when we say (or think) “I know better.” So when we read Paul’s words, do we understand which side of the leash we are on? Are you still tugging against it?
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 ESV
Our fears about the path we are on cause us to tug against the leash. Our imperfect understanding feeds our fears. Our pride insists it knows a better way. But, there is probably a bigger picture. Sometimes the thorns we encounter on our walk in this world are merely a consequence of the path we have chosen; sometimes they are things used by God to teach us; and sometimes the thorns are but the lesser of two evils. From our perspective, we cannot always understand the value or meaning of thorns. But the one on the smarter end of the leash has more knowledge and more perspective.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
--And He, God, is wise, caring, and trustworthy.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV
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