Reflection of God

To reflect means to take time to meditate or consider a new idea. It also means to reflect an image as in a mirror. And so it is that I take time to reflect on the life of our faithful friend and companion - Hobbes - our yorkshire terrier who after being with us for 17 years died. I want to consider a new idea of how our dog was a reflection of God. After all if you hold the word "dog" up to a mirror, it reflects backward as "god".

D ependant. Hobbes was dependant on us. We have a saying, "It's a dog's life" which means it is a wonderful life filled without worry or concern. Why? Because a dog does not worry about his food or shelter, he knows it will be provided. They have a simple faith.

Me, I worry. I worry about money, time, people and circumstances most of which I cannot control. It seems we want to control our circumstances and when we can't seek to blame someone else for the problem. We are so good we even blame our dog - "My dog ate my homework". Circumstances are often difficult - they can be for a dog also - but our challenge is to have the faith of a dog in the midst of the circumstances so that we can still face the challenges with joy. Otherwise we can find ourselves trapped in prisons of bitterness, anger and despair. Prisons of our own making.

When I first met Shelly she was trapped in a prison of bitterness and hopelessness. Who could blame her? She had a controlling ex-husband who was abusive. She was afraid for herself and nine-year-old daughter. She became Administer Justice's first client. While we were able to intervene and provide protection and support through the law, we were also able to provide mercy, compassion and hope. She was so grateful she brought cookies to court. You can meet Shelly and hear her story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjNIfNGfNns&feature=channel

Over time Shelly learned to not be dependent upon an unreliable ex or a caring attorney, but to rely upon the only true, constant and faithful God. The psalmist declares: "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Ps. 62:5-8.

We can depend on Him.

O bedient. We often think of dogs as obedient. They know their master's voice and respond to it. Some dogs are obedience school masters and others, like Hobbes, were obedience school dropouts. Yorkie's are very smart dogs but for his final test in obedience school, Hobbes quit heeling and decided it was too nice a day and laid down in the grass. Still until he went deaf late in life, he listened to our voice and was never cross.

We have another dog saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." No matter what kids might do to Hobbes he never bit or fought back. It amazes me how quickly we get angry or disappointed with God and bite the hand that feeds us. Not Hobbes. He had a wonderful disposition no matter what the circumstances and happily followed wherever we led.

Most of us are probably obedience school drop outs. Some of us are deaf, others hear our master's voice but prefer to go our own way. I am certainly one such individual. I did not want to start Administer Justice. I wanted to keep a lucrative private practice. I liked the time flexibility I had and being the senior partner of a multi-office law firm. But God's plans are not our plans and neither are his ways our ways. They are better. I was slow to learn this and you can read more on that story on our website - Go and Do Likewise - www.administerjustice.org.

Isaiah declares: "This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.'" Isa. 48:18-19. Last week I was in court and the judge commented on how peace-filled I was. There is a peace that comes in knowing that you are obeying your master's voice. There is great blessing in serving the thousands who come to Administer Justice. We never serve perfectly, but we always serve faithfully to the best of our abilities.

There is joy in obedience.

G iving. Dogs are very giving. We have a phrase, "loyal as a dog" because of how loving and giving dogs are. "Watchdogs" are vigilant. They serve and protect. They wait on their master and watch over them, no matter what.

Hobbes was already seven when we had our boys and we were concerned that he would resent these new creatures imposing on his territory. But moments after Joseph and Daniel were brought home for the first time, Hobbes interjected himself when grandpa tried to pull Joseph away from me. He instantly sought to protect his new charges and served as a loving big brother the rest of his days. On one occasion we had a rash of burglaries in our neighborhood and the houses all around ours were broken into but we were spared and we are certain that is because of Hobbes barking. It did not matter that he was only ten pounds as all ten pounds were heart.

God is like that. He loves us so much that he sacrificed his only son for us. John tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life." Jn. 3:16. Jesus told us, "Greater love has no man than this but that he would lay down his life for his friends." And "This is how they will know you are my friends, if you show love one for another." How do we do that?

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 Jn. 3:16-17. Dogs understand that. They love unconditionally and protect the vulnerable. They serve without question and give themselves entirely in the service of their master.

True living comes from giving.

D O G. Our dog was a wonderful Dependant, Obedient, Giving animal. He was more than an animal, more than a pet, but was a member of the family. We will miss him, but I pray that I can learn from him. To depend on the master, be obedient to his voice, and give love in the service of others. What a great model. As I reflect on Hobbes, I truly believe he reflected GOD. May the same be said of me when one day I draw my last breath. I pray the same for you as well.