One of the things we have been doing this month is ministering to the homeless. We have been helping a church here, Melville Junction begin a ministry to the homeless. There are two main groups we have been hanging out with. A group of guys who are between the ages of 15-35, who we have been bringing soup to each afternoon and getting to know their stories. There are also two older men who are in the 50’s and 60’s who we also bring food and talk with. 
This past Sunday Dave and I met up with Jimmy who is in his fifties. Jimmy wanted to show us around Johannesburg. For those who don’t know, Dave is a designated male for the month. He has graciously left his team, Spectacle to be a bodyguard. We ended up walking about eight miles that day with Jimmy. Jimmy has a cute little dog named Jessica. I am not sure how long he has had her, but I think it’s been several years. As we were on our eight mile or so walk around Johannesburg, I was fascinated by Jessica. That probably seems odd, but I have never seen a dog follow her master like this one did.
Jessica has no collar or leash. Jimmy rarely ever had to call her. She was always right with us. When she would run ahead she would stop and turn around and wait for us to catch up. She would always wait for us to cross the street. She would stop and do her dog thing and sniff and mark her territory but she would always run right back up to us. The few times she was called by Jimmy she came just by her name being called. She didn’t chase after the other dogs we walked by. She was completely obedient to her master and followed him everywhere.
As I was observing her that Sunday afternoon it made me think about how I follow my master, Jesus. Am I completely obedient? Do I wait on my master to direct my path? Do I follow his ways always? We have been doing a bible study on the book of Matthew and we have been discussing how the disciples dropped everything when they were called to follow Jesus. So obedience and following have been on my mind these past couple of days. I know that in the past I have not followed Jesus as I should. I know that I would question and argue with him about what he has called me to do. I would struggle with trusting that he had everything totally in control.
As I watched Jessica, she trusted Jimmy completely. She did not questions or argue with him when he called her. She just came. She stopped what ever she was doing and followed. God has shown himself even more trustworthy to obey and follow. Never in the past has he given me a reason to doubt or question, but this year he has made it so evident that he is consistent and faith in all things. Once again he had given me an example of how I am to live me life. One thing that Dave has quoted often is “Hear God’s voice and obey.” That sums up how I am to always live my life. I hate that it has taken so much for me to fully comprehend and implement in my life.
Who knew that God could teach me so much through an afternoon walk with a homeless man and his dog. It is amazing how God can work and speak through anything.
