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There’s someone I know who lives his life completely devoted to his provider.  Day in and day out, he centers his life around the one who meets his needs.  Who is this you may be wondering?  Well, his name is Ignas but we just call him Iggy.  My Australian Shepherd is one of the most devoted creatures I have ever met and really, I think we can all learn a thing or two about our faith from him.

Now, before I continue, let me just say, it’s not insulting to be compared to Iggy or to be learning a lesson from him.  After all, he’s practically human (at least he thinks so).  He enjoys many the same activities as you and I…
 
                       reading the paper (Travel section!)                                               watching TV with a loved one
             
 taking a much needed nap after a long day

 

…though I’m not too keen on eating flies or drinking from the toilet.  Nevertheless, I’m serious when I say he’s taught me a thing or two about faith.

For starters, he’s devoted.  Maybe this confused you; maybe it didn’t.  Let me elaborate anyway.  Iggy is devoted to my mom.  He loves my mom more than anybody else (sorry guys, it’s clearly true) and he’s constantly by her side.  We often joke that he’s her shadow and my mom even has a song to go along with that fact.  He enjoys their games of hide & seek, fetch, but even more so, he simply loves to be with her.  It’s not a rare occurrence to find Iggy, our little lap dog, sprawled on Mama, head on her chest or trying so adamantly to give her a kiss (since she loves those so much).  He’s devoted to her.  If she sneezes, he’s by her side, making sure everything’s okay.  When she sleeps, he’s by her side, protecting her?  Sure, that’s what it is 🙂  (he sleeps like a rock!)  Iggy lives a Mama-centered life.  You may be thinking aww that’s cute but what does this have to do with my faith.  Well, let me tell you.  Substitute God in for my mom and yourself in for Iggy and you have exactly the type of relationship the Lord deserves-one completely centered on Him.  You see, Iggy doesn’t even realize his life is centered around Mama.  The same should be true of our faith.  We should lead such Christ-centered lives that we don’t even realize it anymore!

This brings me to my second point.  Iggy loves unconditionally.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally stepped on him or picked him up despite his despise (though I secretly think he actually likes it).  He doesn’t hold grudges-not even for this. 
 

 

When it comes down to it, my dog really has every reason to hate me.  I mean, I’ve practically smothered him to death with hugs and kisses thousands of times, I’ve made him sit for pictures more than any human I know, and I just simply don’t tolerate those eye boogers!  Nonetheless, despite his moments of ignoring me, Iggy shows no resentment toward me.  In fact, he shows exactly the opposite.  When I come home, he’s eager to kiss me (after barking of course).  Before going to bed, he gives me a good night kiss and let’s me hug him.  He’s constantly shaking my hand and showing off that silly grin of his.  He’s just a lover, not a hater.  His love truly is unconditional, stretching to anybody who comes to our home.  Though he may bark, and viciously at times, he wouldn’t dare bite.  Sometimes I don’t think he even knows how!  His unconditional love is simply a sliver of the love the Father has to offer me.  Think about that for a minute.  If God’s unconditional love was a big redwood, Iggy’s would only be a tiny sliver.  Crazy! 

One of Iggy’s favorite pastimes includes hanging his head out the window.  When he’s especially enjoying it, you can see him hanging his tongue out, drool dripping and all.  Occasionally he just gazes out in the distance, perhaps watching a passing train or simply just enjoying the cool breeze as it flows through his fur.  What I love about this almost daily habit of Iggy’s is its simplicity.  To please Iggy, we don’t need to give him a dozen new toys or a big ol’ steak bone (though he greatly appreciates those too), he’s content with the simplicity of a breeze.  You might think I’m crazy but it’s true.  Every once in awhile we catch him lying at the edge of the patio, simply gazing out into the cornfield as the wind blows through his fur.  Iggy has learned how to be content and simply be.  He may not realize what he’s doing and that this breeze is a gift from God, but he has mastered the art of relaxation and just enjoying what is given to him, even if that’s the simplicity of a breeze and a great view.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could learn the art of relaxation?  Would it be great if we could learn to just be?

I’m telling you, he may be a dog, but there’s a lot to be learned from the things he does.