A conversation with one of our pastoral staff reminded me of an incident when I was 11 years old. I was walking along a county road when a very large, snarling, drooling, blood thirsty German Shepherd came running from the other side of the road. In his eyes was the clear intention to eat me—after dismembering me. I froze, and the dog ran into the road to cross over to me. At just that moment a large car (there were large cars then) drove by, slamming into and over the dog.
I stood and looked at this dog, bleeding and literally broken, whimpering in the middle of the road. No one else was there. The car just drove on.
This may amaze some of you who know me, but I didn’t hesitate (Did I say I was 11?). I went into the road to try to move the dog out of the road so at least it wouldn’t be run over again the next time a car went by. I reached out to the dog, trying to grab it by the neck and a leg that didn’t appear to be broken. Bad idea.
This dog started out wanting to eat me. Then it got hurt. I risked myself to move it. Most of you know what came next. It nearly took my hand off.
I survived the experience, though unfortunately the dog did not. And I learned something.
Wounded creatures try to bite you.
Now, after over 35 years of ministry, I have a lot of “scars” where wounded creatures have bitten me. Some of those wounds were serious and very painful. And each time I start out feeling righteously indignant. Seriously? I was trying to help! And then I remember the dog. It was hurting. It was scared. It was confused. And it tried to take off the hand that tried to help save it.
People do that too. Kids do that and their parents do that. Husbands do that and wives do that. People in the world do that, and yes even Christians do that.
Jesus tired to help the world. They killed Jesus.
SO if I’m going to serve him, I shouldn’t be terribly surprised if they try to hurt me too.
And that doesn’t change a thing. If I am going to be faithful to the Lord I have to be willing to risk being hurt. I have to be willing to not take it personally. I have to be willing to love even if loving hurts me. I don’t always do that—but I’m more open as I grow in the Lord.
One more thing—I too get hurt. And when I’m hurt, I tend to turn into that dog.
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