Like Walking the Dog

Moving from the mountains of Western North Carolina to the city a few years ago changed a number of things in our lives, one of those things being walking the dog. We didn't actually walk the dog in the traditional sense when we lived in the mountains; we opened the door, let her out, and she barked when she was ready to come back in.

But life in the city meant putting Molly on a leash when she needed to go out, and we took her out, on a leash, for exercise as well. If you have ever walked a dog, then you realize just how little actual exercise the human gets in that endeavor. Walking the dog is a start and stop, stroll a bit/sniff a bit endeavor, and actually involves more standing around and waiting than walking. Molly has been gone for a few years now, and I miss those walks. But she left a lasting impression. I began thinking about Molly this morning as I was doing my Bible Study. Does that seem a little odd? Let me explain.

Taking Molly out was always something like walk five steps, stop and sniff, walk two more steps, stop and look around, walk a little more, then just stand there. And I think walking the dog has much in common with the Christian life.

When Molly and I would go out the door, we (at least I) always went with a definite purpose in mind. A goal, if you will. A plan to walk in a certain direction, take care of business along the way, and then return home, all within a definite time frame. There was no plan to stop numerous times along the route, or to be distracted by other dogs, or by birds or rabbits, or by cars driving by, or by any of the numerous other distractions along the way.

We begin our Christian walk in much the same way. Once we have committed our lives to Christ, we set about learning to live for Him for as long as we are in this life, until we reach our ultimate heavenly home.  It is never our intent for our spiritual growth to be sporadic, or stalled, or that we go off course. But that's what often happens, isn't it?

The Christian life is very often three steps forward, four steps backward. It is sometimes very focused, but there are often distractions that hinder our forward progress.  

Even though our expectation may be steady forward progress throughout our lives, reality is more often a series of starts and stops and twists and turns. Does that mean we aren't really Christian?  No, it more likely means we are just human. Not perfect, even though we might like to be.

The good news is that the Christian life is about our relationship with Christ, not about our performance.  

And even though we might find ourselves more often than not in a "walking the dog" mode, there is help for us. The solution to dealing with these distractions is focus. That's why the writer of Hebrews tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2)

Walking Molly was always filled with starts and stops because she was so easily distracted. The same is true for us in our Christian walk. The starts and stops and stutter steps come because we are distracted.

The solution is focus. And discipline.

Something to think about today.

"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."  (1 Timothy 4:7b NASB)