What is our mission? Today, it was to search for a lost dog. The caretaker of the house we are staying in lost her dog 2 days ago; he went out and never came home. How do you search for a dog in the bush of Australia…I’ll explain. The 7 of us spread out about 7 meters apart and made our way through the sometimes waist high grass. The recent rain left everything wet which in turn got us wet as we trudged through. To look down and not see the ground (or your feet for that matter) is a daunting thing. Grass is harmless I know, but what about the snakes? We are in Australia’s unforgiving terrain and there are snakes everywhere…along with the crocs, but that’s another story.
What does it look like with 6 American women all in shorts, two in sandals, and all of us not so excited about the thought of snakes all around? Well for the two in sandals it looks like them holding hands and running to get through quickly, with a random scream here and there. Got the picture yet? Here’s what was going through my mind when God stepped in to teach me a little lesson.
As I walked through the grass looking for a dog I was trying to focus but easily being distracted by the possibility of a snake biting my ankles that I couldn’t even see; twitching at every branch I saw on the ground. To be honest, I really did not want to be risking snake bite for a dog. Why was I even out there then? Every time I looked at Liz’s (the caretaker) face I could see the hurt of her missing her best mate. She had that dog for 6 years and when we’re not here it’s just the two of them out here in the bush. When we leave now (unless the dog is found or returns) she will not have her friend and protector. I saw the sadness as she scanned the horizon; I heard it in her voice as she prayed for God to protect the dog and lead us to him.
God spoke to my heart and said, “You’re on a mission to find what is lost.” He wasn’t just talking about the dog. It’s like life as a missionary and a Christian; we are on a God-given mission to find what is lost…the souls of the people who don’t have a relationship with the Lord. Sometimes there will be snakes (fears) that make us want to turn back, high wet grass (hindrances) that makes us uncomfortable and visibility more difficult; will we let that affect our attitude?
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23
I didn’t start off with that attitude, but as God spoke and I prayed my fears left and I was able to really put my efforts into looking. Suddenly, the snakes weren’t scary (thank God I never actually saw one though it was in my mind that they were somewhere under the grass), my wet shoes and socks from the rain soaked terrain didn’t bother me, and I could notice my attitude changing. Everything else stayed the same; it’s amazing how your attitude can change your view of a situation.
I pray that God will continue to show Himself to me in those small moments that can too often be ignored. I don’t want to miss out on what He has to teach me because of my attitude and I hope you don’t either.
UPDATE: Since I wrote this the dog has been found. He was dehydrated but safe at a neighbor’s house. Liz was so happy and her face was lit up with joy that her mate had been found.
