Today I came to one of my favorite places for the purpose of having a little more solitude to work on some things in my recovery: Lake Rim. Over the last year, I have experienced amazing sunsets here, invigorating and thought provoking conversations…and even a little bit of romance. It’s a special place for me. Today, however, I experienced a lesson from the Holy Spirit through the rebellion of a dog named Louie.

I stepped out of my car and slung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed a chair from my trunk and remained lost in my thoughts as I made my way to my favorite spot. In the peripheral of my mind, I registered someone shout “Louie, NO!” followed by a splash. I thought nothing of it as I proceeded to unfold my chair, get out my recovery notebook and pen and sit down to write. In a moment of pensive thought, with the end of my pen resting on my bottom lip, I looked up to gaze out over the water and take in the panoramic view before me. As I did, I finally noticed the object of the human attention in the water: a dog named Louie. From what I could gather of just his white face and pointy ears, Louie is probably a Husky or maybe a Malamute. And the objects of his attention were several ducks now making a mad dash away from him and towards safety at the opposite shore of the lake.

For more than 20 minutes I watched Louie zig and zag in the water towards one duck, then towards a group of ducks, then back towards one duck. All the while, as he focused only on getting his jaws around the game before him, his worried and frustrated owners begged and pleaded for him to come back as they walked to and fro along the grassy banks of the lake. But Louie, in his enthusiastic attempts to obtain the objects of his doggy desire, heard nothing but the panicked quack-quack of the fowl he was chasing.

I must admit…I see myself in Louie.

How many times has my flesh set eyes on something–or someone–I want? How many times have I ripped myself away from the safety of my Creators grasp and jumped head first into unknown waters to chase something that wasn’t for me? How many times have I been lured in by the charms of a handsome fella, or by the fantasy of a life without pain in a substance? How many times have I disregarded the dangers that could be lurking beneath because the attraction of what was above the water mesmerized me so?

How many times has the sickeningly sweet ‘voice’ of the thing I wanted drowned out the voice of the Lord? How many times has He attempted to call me back into the safety next to Him yet I’ve gone so far out into deep waters that I can no longer hear His voice? Or I can no longer discern His voice from that of the temptation calling me…

Louie was eventually pulled from the water and away from the ducks that held his attention for the better part of a half hour. His master lovingly attached the leash back to Louie’s collar and talked in hushed tones to him about his disobedience. I don’t know what was said, but I can imagine he was being chastised for running amok tonight.

Now, I would never suggest that God attempts to hold me at bay by some sort of spiritual leash…but I would suggest that His Word and the knowledge of His constant presence in my life are kind of like the safety harness that Louie wore. They are meant to remind me that I don’t walk this road alone. They are meant to remind me that when I obey and heed the voice of my Master I can avoid pain, heartache, longer than necessary routes to my purpose, exhaustion, and the ache of Jesus’ disappointment in me when He finally has me back where I’m supposed to be–safe in His arms.

Louie was exhausted from his excursion. I saw it as he walked alongside his owners towards the safety of their car and a dry place to lay. How often have we all chased something that was out of God’s will for our lives only to be left exhausted and unfulfilled when we didn’t reach it…or we did reach it, but it was nothing like our lustful flesh had imagined? I have found that everything I need is in Jesus…if I simply commit to walking in step with His will for my life. I fail often and find myself chasing things that are not meant for me, but just like Louie’s owner, Jesus is always waiting at the shore to pull me back into the safety of His arms.

Lord, tonight I learned a lesson through watching Louie chase a desire that left his little doggy body exhausted and unfulfilled…and I saw myself. I hate that part of me that seems to think there is more fun to be had away from the safety next to You. Teach me, Lord, to stay close by Your side when the world calls me out into deep waters. And if I must go into deep waters, don’t ever let me go without You leading the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4