When we first arrived here at our ministry location we were able to sit in on a session with some of the Cambodian students about missions and about a book called, “Cat and Dog Theology.” It was a really good session and made us want to read the book he was using. Lucky for us our contact owns this book and it is in her apartment. Since we are staying in her place this month my teammates have been taking turns reading the book. I’m hoping that there will be time for someone to read it aloud to me before we leave. I have heard bits and pieces and it is a good book. It will challenge you, but in a good way and if you’ve not read it, I think that you should.
A week ago I shared with the team how I was struggling with this whole not seeing thing. I told them that it is frustrating to me to not be able to do some pretty basic things on my own, like read or even feel comfortable riding my bike through town unless I have to go somewhere. I told them how it is hard for me to ask for help, because even though I have never had perfect vision before I have been able to figure out how to get through life without much assistance from others and be pretty much independent. Asking someone to read me a book, or read the Bible to me, or tell me what is on the menu, or having my teammates have to keep such a close eye on me whether riding a bike or walking through town is a super humbling experience. They all assured me that they do not mind helping me and I know that is true. They have been an amazing help and blessing to me throughout this time. They are always willing to help me out in any way I need and they never forget to lift me up in prayer. I am very lucky to have such amazing people on my team to show God’s love for me by looking out for me. At the same time I hate asking for help. I cannot be as independent as I would like to be and it is a hard concept to grasp.
Yesterday while praying for me God gave Rachael a passage from the book to read to me and I want to share it with you all because I think it speaks volumes and sums up the new attitude I’m trying to take towards this experience. Rachael shared with me that even though this is a struggle for me it is bringing me to my knees and that is good. I guess I thought if I was struggling with something then it meant I wasn’t trusting God with it, but if my struggles bring me closer to Him then it is a good thing.
So here is the quote. I hope it speaks to you where you are at in life as much as it does to me
“R.C. Sproul , in his book The Invisible Hand, says it this way: “For the Christian, every tragedy is ultimately a blessing, or God is a liar,” That is, everything, not just the good things, is designed to bring us to God. Anything that brings you to your knees is a blessing because life is designed to help us come to a one-on-one encounter with the living God. And if something happens that causes us to get down on our knees, it is ultimately a blessing because it points us to what life is all about-to knowing Him, to worshipping Him, and to praising Him.
There is nothing that can come into a Dog’s life that cannot point him to God. Hence life is all about pointing to the glory of God in the mist of blessings and it the midst of tough times. It all brings about opportunities to glorify God. That is why Corrie Ten Boom could still worship God in a German concentration camp.
A Dog’s key verse is found in Habakkuk 3:17-18:
Though the fig tree does not bud
And there are no grapes on the vines,
Though the olive crop fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pen
And no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior
Cats, on the other hand, only see blessings as being from God, and they expect blessings, to always come out on top, and to always be winners. When the bad things come, they make a cross with their two fingers, as if resisting a vampire, and say, “Get behind me, Satan.” Dogs know that Christ didn’t promise ease and comfort in this life or the Christianity would be easy. Life was designed to be series of opportunities to live out and radiate the Glory of God!”
