Be Like Jack: Admitting When We're Wrong

This is Jack.

Cute isn’t he? Yes. To answer the question. He’s adorable.

Jack is also completely blind.

If you watched him, wander around our house, or in our yard, you’d never know. Unless, that it, you looked him in the face and saw his very thick cataracts. Jack is diabetic.

Jack still plays tug-o-war. He plays fetch if he can hear the object hit the ground, he loves keep-away and doing tricks for treats. Jack, can also recognize, by the sound of the engine, vehicles, that belong or do not belong in our neighborhood. Pretty remarkable.

This morning, I took Jack out to the back yard, as we do twice a day, to feed the horses. This is a chore, he’s been helping me with since he was very small. Jack sees it as his duty to walk with me and the feed, then the hay in a hay net to Twila first, then Murphy. He loves to sample the fresh water from the hose when I turn it on to fill tubs.

I had a little extra to do, because my “hay guy” is coming with a fresh delivery. This means I have to condense and sweep the barn to give this wonderful man, room to stack the new bales.

It was during this chore, that I looked up, and noticed that Jack was missing.

I stepped out of the barn, in time to see the rear end of my blind dog, running down the neighbors yard to the woods. He had found a hole in the fence and took the opportunity.

Now, I expect any dog to run when given the chance. The woods are so appealing, the lakes refreshing and the squirrels so much more fun to chase when they’re on THE OTHER SIDE of the fence.

Nonetheless any dog that has escaped my yard and they will once in a great while, has sent me into retrieval mode. Because those aren’t just woods behind my house, it is The Ocala National Forrest. And the lakes? Swim far enough, and any dog, will become food for a hungry alligator.

The only consolation, with all my other animals, is that they can see, and perhaps escape a gator, bobcat, coyote, or criminal looking for a bait dog. Jack, happy-go-lucky, wouldn’t see it coming.

So, here I am, early morning. Running the length of my yard, out the gate and then down the road to see my blind dog, having a great time.

I called his name and he knew right away, that he was where he shouldn’t be.

Jack dropped his head, and let me catch him. (he’s a dog, but a great dog)

Whew.

I walked him back to the safety of the yard, and then inside for breakfast and his insulin shot. Currently, my wayward pup is sleeping on my feet.

How often do we go blindly outside of the parameters that God has set for us? A little lie? A little gossip? Just a little promiscuity? We skip, happy-go-lucky, not knowing that sin has a price?

The thing is, like Jack. We know our parameters. We know the boundaries God has set, not to spoil our fun, but to give us a happy and full life.

Will we, like Jack admit to being wrong? Will we, willingly submit to His will for us? Will we let God walk us home to feed and care for us? Or will we wander down a road we can’t really see, to dangers, we don’t know are there.

Lord God, keep my eyes set on you.

Grace and Peace,

Liz