A few years ago, I had an idea to get a blue heeler for my dad since it is his favorite dog breed. This dog was going to be an outside dog only, kind of like Dad’s “shop dog”. He named him Cowboy since Blue Heelers were bred to herd cattle. Dad fenced the yard in for him and started taking him around as he worked on our property. However, my mom quickly fell in love. She started bringing in this wild dog that sheds like crazy more and more often. Since my mom was home on medical leave, she was the one feeding him and spending time with him, so Cowboy quickly associated Mom as his owner. My mom even decided to get a pet door so he could come and go as he pleases. This breed of dog is a herding dog. But, aside from that, Blue Heelers are sometimes known as “shadow dogs”. This means that they are intensely devoted to their owner and dislike being separated from them. Cowboy is now attached to my mom. He follows her around EVERYWHERE she goes (even to the bathroom). When we take him to the walking trail, he makes sure to get between her and anyone that may pose a threat to her. He sleeps with her and follows every step she makes. If she stands up, he stands up. If she sits down, he sits down… You get the picture. Because Cowboy acts in this way, I often say that he is “clingy” and “obsessed”.
This is a beautiful picture of what God calls us to do in our relationship with Him. We are His sons and daughters. We are called to be in constant communication with him and to follow His direction for our life. You see, Cowboy doesn’t know where Mom is going or what her plans are. He just follows. When she stops, he waits. If she picks up the pace, he picks up the pace. We do not know what God’s master plan is.
That is why He calls us to “walk by faith and not by sight” in 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Cowboy’s attitude of just following his owner reminds me of Paul. In Philippians 1:1, Paul refers to himself as a servant. The origin of this word in this context means “under rower”, referring to someone who would sit in the bottom of a boat holding an oar, just rowing. The under rower could not see where the boat was going. But they trusted the captain to steer them the right way. Paul’s attitude in this verse is simply, “I don’t know where I am going, but I’m going to keep rowing”. This is the attitude I hope to have in my walk with the Lord. If he calls me somewhere, I want to follow even if I don’t know where I’m going. If he calls me to stop, I want to stop, even if I don’t know why. I hope to be clinging so tightly to His Word, that I am confident that each step I take will be leading me where my Father wants me to go.
Psalm 119:105 states, “His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”.
He is telling us that His word is our Guide when we don’t know what decision to make or which step to take. A lamp is not the same as an overhead light that shows us the whole path. The lamp that the psalmist was talking about only gives off enough light to show a couple of feet around it. It would show someone where to take their next step. This concept is so frustrating for me. I want to know what will happen if I make a decision or take a step out in faith. God does not always give us this knowledge because He wants us to trust in Him and trust that He will keep us safe. He calls us to blind obedience, similar to the obedience Cowboy has in blindly following my mom wherever she goes, trusting that she is going to provide for Him and keep him from harm.
I hope someone calls me clingy and obsessed. I want to have Paul’s attitude where I will follow God wherever he takes me, serve Him when I don’t know the direction, and be clinging so tightly to His word that I am walking in step with God’s plan for my life.
Kristie Brothers
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#kristiebrothersblogs
