God's Chest

I have a little puppy named Jedi. His name means beloved of God. His father is my dog, Buddy. I named him Buddy because I wanted a name that means friendship. I got Jedi when he was five weeks old because the mother stopped feeding him. He was the runt of the litter, which made him popular with humans. He was so little and cute that everyone held him. As a consequence, he is a trusting little soul, and he likes and trusts everyone. So, for now, I have a little dog pack of two.

Jedi is brave and will obviously be dominant once he grows older. He will probably be about the same size as his father when he is full grown. Dogs are loyal and dogs are service animals. They are happiest when they have tasks to fulfill. For instance, Buddy considers himself to be the guardian of the property and therefore it is his express purpose to bark at intruders. Sometimes the so-called intruder is a person walking by or the woman across the street working in her yard. However! He carries out his duties enthusiastically.

Jedi is brave. The other day he heard the vacuum for the first time. I thought he would run under the bed, or perhaps bark. He did neither. He remained calm because Buddy was calm. After about five minutes, Jedi came to me to pick him up and he snuggled onto my chest. If Buddy plays too rough with him, after a while Jedi will come and seek comfort and safety under my feet or beg me to pick him up again. If I am leaning back, he will leap onto my chest and settle there. When I am busy, sometimes I tie him up in a scarf and carry him close under my neck, where he sleeps soundly. 

A few days ago, I was calling out to someone, and I had to shout because they were at a distance. While I was shouting, Jedi scooched up and snuggled his head into my neck. Older dogs will look at you if you shout. The look to see if you are shouting about them. Are they in trouble? But Jedi is too innocent and inexperienced to have an opinion about what I am doing. I am the mama figure and that is all he knows; and the safety and security of being held. 

Yesterday, he was laying on me taking a nap, while I was working on the computer. Suddenly, Yahweh came up behind me and was looking over my shoulder at the little puppy. I saw the great qualities in Jedi of loyalty and service and bravery. Then Yahweh said, "when he grows, he will be powerful. He won't be big because that is not in his genes, but he will have a strong personality."

Yahweh continued, "When he lifts his head and finally really sees you, his bravery and loyalty and his desire for service will be for you." That is true. That is how it works. Dogs love their owners, some of whom they consider to be the pack leader. What pleasant and useful companions are dogs.

Then, Yahweh said, "I am only a chest to many people. They come to me with their prayers for healing and help. They come to me for comfort, which I give to them. All the while I look at them and see their great potential which can never reach its fulness except in me. If only they would lift their head and see me. If they would, all their gifts, all their love and loyalty, all that is within them, will be towards me. They will look to see what I am doing. They will want to know my will - not only my will about their life and situations in particular, but they will want to know what I am doing, what I am thinking, and what plans I have. I am glad for people to seek me for answers and for comfort. But I yearn for the day that they open their eyes and really see me." 

The chest of God. There is no greater resting place. Yet, let us go beyond that which is safe and comforting to us, and look and listen to hear his will and his words. He is there, ready to connect with us, lead us, and teach us how to really live. The Apostle Paul said that when he was a child, he thought like a child. We must leave our childhood and enter into a mature relationship with God and be about his business, just as he shows it to us. God is not looking for religiosity. He is looking for friendship.