The first time he ran away was about a month ago. And it was an absolute mess getting him back. Samantha and I essentially had electronic wanted posters on social media for the arrest of our outlaw friend Grigsby. During our first search of our new Pug-Pomeranian prince, it had literally come to me going and renting a 'live trap' from the conservation department. I set the live trap up in the area where our fugitive buddy had been spotted most often, and set a can of filet mignon flavored wet dog food inside. All the time I spent looking for him, and the time I spent obtaining and setting the trap cut deeply into some much needed studying for my senior test. The whole time I had sensed God telling me to pursue this lil peckerwood of an escapist and to not quit looking for him. To try everything to get him back. Everytime I began being annoyed and frustrated in looking for him, the Spirit would simply say "the lost sheep parable." And so I would grudgingly take another lap around the block shouting for Grigsby to get his little spunky ass back here.
"Doesn't God know I have to take the HFS test tonight? I don't have time to look for this rebellious dog." And God promptly replied, Easy there son. That's not quite the attitude I had when I came looking for you.
Busted. This was not about finding a dog. It was about God disrupting my priorities in life. Grigsby brought loads and loads of joy to Samantha. So God asked me, Whats more important? A petty HFS test score or your future wife's heart? Whats more important? Getting shit done or loving others deeply?
OK. ok. I got it Father. Just bring this freaking dog back.
Now I wished this story ended with: "Then GUESS WHAT?! I went to my HFS test and passed even though I barely studied all because the Lord rewarded me for all my lookign for our dog!!!!!!....then later that night I went to check on the trap, and guess who was in it?! GRIGSBY!!!!"
This woulda been the perfect ending, surely would have been the script I wrote for the redemption of our relationship with ole Grigs dudes.
But the trap didn't work. And I did not pass my senior test. BUT. Someone did find Grigsby. And we got our pup back this past Tuesday.
Takeaway lesson: Redemption is hard work, and rather disruptive to your personal schedule, but its utterly worth it. Redemption doesn't always happen how we imagine, but by the grace of our Daddy in heaven, it does happen, in his perfect way and timing.
Now to be perfectly honest, I was fighting Samantha pretty strongly on even getting a damn dog. At least until we were married. But when we went to the shelter I sensed God giving me the go ahead to get this little rascal. And now that I finally had brought him home and been re united with this lil booger, I had fell for him. I love him. Hes the bomb! He doesn't dry hump you, he doesn't bite, he snuggles with you like no other, Hes like a stuffed animal with a tiny bit more energy and life. Walking him was my new favorite time of the day. We would finish the last leg of our journeys with a rather spirited sprint. It was a blast even if the frozen tundra of Kirksville was so bitter.
And now, Grigsby has ran away. Again. The front door opened to our house, and he immediately bolted. So fast none of my roomies could even react or prevent it from happening. Why the hell would God tell me to buy a dog that would run away like his life depended on it?! I mean the first time he ran away, I understand. He was an abused little guy, and was fearful of people, didn't trust us. But over the past 3 days I had proved that I was a good owner. I had given him unlimited love, lots of great food and water, a warm bed, and multiple walks a day. I had given him a WAY better life than the one he had lived in the shelter. I had given him an extremely better life than the one he had while he was on the run for a few weeks. So why would he run away?
The fact of the matter is God has rather humorously and playfully given Samantha and I a clear picture of what we all do.
God gives us perfect life and perfect love. He gives us the unconditional attention and affirmation that our hearts so desperately crave. When we come into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God offers us a life that by far exceeds our past one. We are literally given life to the fullest from our Father in heaven. Yet the first chance we get, we bolt for a false sense of freedom, much like our pup Grigsby. Grigsby has no reason to be fearful of me, has no reason not to trust that I am good and loving. Yet he runs.
And so do we.
We have no reason not to trust that Gods heart for us is good and loving. Yet we run. I mean, its mind boggling. The guy takes a bullet aimed at us and dies so that we might live. What is not to trust about a guy who dies so that we can be rescued and given the life and joy we were meant to experience?
Oh God is in this latest escape of Grigsby. When you walk with God, everything counts, there is something to learn in all experiences.
What will Samantha and I's attitude be toward this? Will we throw in the towell? He doesn't even want what we have to offer! Why would we even get our hopes up in finding him? Why would we even want to find him?
Because if you recall, our Shepherd gladly leaves the 99 sheep on the hill to go look for the lost one UNTIL he finds it. (Luke 15:1-7)
Now if I am writing the story for this round of redemption, it would go something like this: "The next morning my roomies woke up and found Grigsby on the porch. He had turned back and came home!!!"
But I'm not writing the story. God is. And Samantha and I are open to whatever the heck He pleases to write. We don't mind if we get him back, only to have him run away yet again. We will simply love this little soul because we see pieces of our own hearts in his fearfulness of Life. Redemption might not happen how Samantha and I imagine, but it will come. And we will wait patiently for it.
We might never find him again.....in this life.
But that will make it an even sweeter Redemption when the great snuggler of all--Grigsby--wags his tail in joy as we crossover from life to Life. I have a hunch on that day Grigsby will no longer be fearful of Life, or distrust our great love for him. I also reckon our own doubt of Gods great love will no longer weigh us down either.
In the mean time, if your in Kirksville please be on the look out for our guy! Pray about it. Dare to believe God's in this. Dare to believe God is in your own trials, big and small.
And keep in mind, victory is not in the outcome, victory is in the decision to fight, to stay hopeful and present in the moment. In this life or the next, our most desirous prayers will be answered.
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