Living with Purpose

I read where mail carriers in Germany were being given lessons in dog psychology. By all accounts, this increased understanding of the canines on their routes has been quite successful, leading to a direct decrease in dog bites. I find that very interesting— the dog psychology part. Sometimes I try to get into Dixie Belle’s head.

For instance, I’m convinced Dixie believes she is successfully protecting us from our mailman on an ongoing basis. Day after day, Dixie sounds the alarm as our carrier dares to enter our circular drive. She keeps it up the entire time he’s putting mail in our box and she finishes with a “and don’t come back” growl as he makes his defeated exit. Afterwards, she saunters back to the front porch, no doubt, patting her doggie self on the back for a job well done. At least that’s how I imagine it to be in her head. One can’t help but be impressed by her vigilance, but I feel sorry for her. It must be wearying. It’s also a shame. I mean, the mailman is going to come and go. She isn’t really affecting his day in the least. All that passionate, yet wasted effort, when she could be enjoying a squirrel chase or resting her aging bones in the sun!

Watching Dixie makes me wonder if I’m unconsciously participating in any folly of my own. How about you? Could we be making much ado about temporal things that will come and go? Several thousand years ago the preacher of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Now when all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.” Sounds like an ancient priority check, doesn’t it? Well, thankfully, Jesus is still in the family business. Actually, He is the family business! Whatever else has to fall through the cracks as we celebrate His birth, let’s make every effort to ensure our worship of Him is not what gets neglected, so that He might order our days with passion and purpose!

My hugs and His Great Blessings,
Shellie