Column: Information Station

October 2007

The dog was waiting in front of the building when my pastor husband John arrived at the church  that Sunday morning to get ready for service.  The honey colored third cousin of a setter-lab and who-knows-what, waggled to greet John. The dog was still there, waggling and waiting when church was over.  

John shook his head. “Someone dumped him because he’s old.” I frowned and clenched my teeth at the very idea. It would be like abandoning grandma.

When no one claimed him, the abandoned dog came across the street to be with us. Red was grateful for food and water and scratches behind the ear. We ruffled his fur; he responded gratefully to every show of affection.

The dog was gentle and patient with our three sons, even allowing our youngest to ride him like a horsie. Sometimes, we’d stop suddenly during a dog-people romp and look at one another blank faced.  “How could someone have abandoned him?”

We cried when Red died and remembered the Sunday morning John  found the abandoned dog waiting. “Whoever owned him knew enough to leave him at the church. I guess they figured that someone there would take care of him,” my husband commented.

Perhaps they assumed that church people have an extra measure of love. Of course, the church is not equipped to be an adoption center for  unwanted pets—or even for the plethora of unwanted people.

Since, however, we are the arms and legs, the fingers, toes and heart of  Jesus Christ on earth, we are called and equipped to massage our corner of the world with his love. While that may include dumped dogs, it certainly includes castaway kids and the adults they have grown into.

Stray dogs are easy to spot: they look nervous, hungry and try to follow us home. Unloved people may not be that obvious. It will take time, energy, persistence and the direction of the Holy Spirit to get beneath their Sunday best. 

I pray that you'll sense the urge this week to get acquainted with someone  whom you could just as easily have ignored. They may need your handshake and smile more than you know. Greet them warmly when you see them again. Remember Jesus’ words: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). 

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September 2007