Ch. 8, 9, and 10

This week I have read three chapters. Basically because I do not want to slow down long enough to post my reflections on each chapter. This is not only true of my reading but also of my life. Things and been busy without really being hectic this week. One of the reasons is I have taken o this challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in one month. Now I am pretty much on schedule with this writing. This are also busy at work. Plus I have wanted to finish a sweater that I have had to rework because the original was way too large. It was sort of intended to be that way but I did not like how it fit it was too loose and baggy. So all of those things have not stopped me from reading because I really enjoy this book but it has slowed down how often I post my reflections of what I have read. Therefore I am going to cram three chapters into one writing. Sort of sounds like my life again.
Ch. 8: Interesting Thing About Expectations.
The way Michelle talks about how her first shih tzu "Milan" began to expect to be allowed to sleep cuddled up next to her not just on the couch but also the bed was funny. Knowing how cute and pitiful a dog can look when they are begging for something I could almost picture this little ball of fluff and his sweet face begging to be let on the bed. I could just as easily see how once that expection was met he would quickly lose interest. I agree with Michelle this is so much like some of us humans. We beg and beg our Father God for something and then when we get it we soon lose interest. It sort of reminds me of an old Garth Brooks song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers", in which the songwriter realizes when meeting and old girlfriend that he is so glad that God did not answer his prayers that she be his and instead made him wait for the woman that was truely the best for him. However, how human that little dog was when he just would not stop even when he proved to himself that the bed was to high from him to jump on. It is a reminder of times when I just would not take God's answer of no and just kept pushing for what I wanted. By the same token when I did ultimately get what I had presisted on it is not really all that important weeks, months now the line when the new wears off.
Michelle also talks about how expectations build in a relationship. When the relationship is new we may not expect must from the other person but as the relationship grows so do our expectations. The arguments grow as our expectations go unmet. Often we are expecting the other person to fill places that only God can. Or even worse we expect the other person to make us happy, feel pretty, give us praise, make us feel worthwhile, you get the picture. In many instances only God through his word and we ourselves can make us feel those things, can meet those expectations. When the other person fails to fulfill our expectations we feel hurt, angry, unloved, etc. I need to remember I am happier in my relationship with my husband when I expect his to only give me those things that he is capable of giving. In other words I allow him to be who he is and allow God to, or God's way to met the other expectations.
Ch. 9: The Flattery of Reflection
Michelle begins this chapter talking about how Milan is a lot like his master. Neither of them like to get up early nor do they like to get up early and go out in the cold. Another way they are alike is they want things the way they are familiar with them being. Michelle then equates this to our relationship with God. First she talks about how God wants us to be like him by being Christ like. Again she uses human tendency to reflect what God wants. She uses as her example how parents want their children to be like them. When we draw closer to God and become "little Christs", "we begin to reflefct His beauty and grace and love to others aroundus, causing them to draw close and love Him too." "And I won't mind losing myself and ooking like God because it feels so good. And that my friends, is a beautiful thing."
Ch. 10: The Secret of Conversion
In this chapter Michelle talks about how her dog, Milan, has won over people who claim they do not like dogs or are afraid of dogs. He doesn't do it by imposing himself in their space but by simply being himself and respecting their boundaries. He minds his own business and does not try to push his way into their affections. In some cases he even ignores them and does his thing. Michelle stated that it was if he could sense that the other person was afraid or did not like dogs so he avoid them, often curling up and going to sleep in his own space.
Michelle then choses this as an example of how we might want to approach converting people to God. Not by being loud, obnoxious, or pushy but by quietly reflect God's love and reflecting it's work in our lives. It is not unlike AA's principle of "attraction not promotion". AA does not have an active public relations firm touting all of it's benefits but rather lets the attraction of changed lives bring more people to AA. "Just as God woos us with His love and grace, and people are changed through a relationship, the secret to winning friends and infuencing people seems to be much more simple than we make it." She goes on to say instead of trying to strong arm others into our way of thinking we should just be ourselves and then let our behaviors attract people to our point of view. She suggests that instead of screams others get saved we need to "make a relationship with God look so good that those searching for peace and true joy will . . . get jealous of what we have and want in."
All three of these have been very good lessons for me. I got a good lesson in expectations this week. Every employee almost in th company I work for have come to expect rather generous Christmas bonuses, the largest of any company in our profession. Well this year because of the economy we are not getting a bonus. At first I was rather angry as were others but then my supervisor sort of put it into persective. A bonus is not something that is owed me for my work but rather a gift given to express appreciation for what I have done over and above what is required of me. My annual evalution was not really changed from last year even though I have been patting myself on the back for being better at my one flaw (or least in my supervisor's point of view) which is angry outbursts when I feel people are trying to take advantage (or that is how he sees it). His perception is a little different than my outlook that causes the behavior. However, the out come is the same. It puts a sense of fear in others because they fear my angry outbursts. His way of wording it also let me know he understands where I am coming from but like God he is saying I don't want you to question their actions I want you to do what I have asked you to do which is being helpful when your caseload allows you that time. I realized as we talked that I still have this sense of "fairness". I only want to help someone if they are doing what they are suppose to be doing just as I do (in my mind only). What my supervisor and God are saying is no, as a Christian you need to be bigger than that, and if you really do not have the time to help then say so in a more pleasant manner.

Ch. 6 & 7

I am really enjoying this book and Michelle's ability to be both funny and yet give new insight into not only dogs but humans and the relationship between them. She is then able to take what she learns from that relationship and apply it to her's (and our) relationship with God. Chapter six dealt with potty training her puppy. In particular how she does not mind cleaning up after her dog whether outside in the doggie park or had an accident in her house. She dutifully carries her little plastic bags around to pick up the mess and deposit in a more suitable location, i.e., trash bin or proper receptical. She then equates that to how God does not like it when we disobey but he still loves us enough to clean up after our messes even when they are "smelly".
I really had to laugh when she shared the incident of a dog lifting his leg to her male dogs head and how the rest of the day other dogs did the same because of the first dogs scent. She equated this to how our small little sins attract larger and larger sins or opportunities for Satan to get a toehold into us.
Chapter 7 deals with teach obedience. How she needs to teach her dog obedience and why and then equating that to why we need to learn to obey God. Basically she condensed it down to the fact that her dogs are safer and happier when they are obediant to her commands because they get praise and treats. God does not directly give us praise but he does give us blessings and we are safer and happier when we obey him. Also she equated obedience to love. We obey God because we love him and her dogs obey her because they love her and want to please her. I just wished I could remember that part about how I am safer and happier when I obey God.

Ch. 5: The Magnitude of Decision

In this chapter Michelle talks about getting her first dog Milan. How that came about, the set back, and ultimately actually bring her little puppy home. She tells how she went totally over board with books, toys, etc. but waited until the actual day to buy dog food. One statement in the whole chapter really struck a chord. "The only thing separating us from joy is a simple decision." How true that is in our relationship with God. We are so "busy thinking about what our decision will cost us that we forget to consider what will be gained." This kind of thinking kept me from returning to the church long after I felt the pull to make that move. Like Michelle I now realize that what I gained far out weighted any cost. It is kind of fun how much I really am getting out of this little book about a woman and her little dogs. Something else a little ironic is that I really do not care for shih tzus.

Ch. 4: Law of Attraction

Michelle shared about the first time she really saw a shih tzu and realized that she just had to have a dog just like that. She got the name of three breeders and called them. However, only two would talk to her and ultimately there was only one breeder that she ended up dealing with. Even the set back of not being able to get the dog that was her first choice did not stop her. There was only one moment when she had a bit of a pause to think about what she was doing and that was when her friend reminded her that this was a serious commitment. She used that to reflect on the quality of her relationship with God at times. Her comments struck a cord with me and possibly all of us. The comment was that when do we want our relationship with God to be all about the benefits of salvation with none of the commitment of developing a relationship. She then goes on to equate this attitude to how our commitment to God looks to non-Christians. This comment struck a none to happy "I do that" response in me. "This led me to conclude that we as Christians can do a far better job of making the world want what we have. But that means we actually have to enjoy our relationship with God, relish living by faith, and revel in the truths that God shared in His Word. Only with that enthusiasm can we interest others."

Ch. 3: The Phenomenon of Focus

In this chapter Michelle writes about her growing interest in dogs. She shares that during Thanksgiving when several congregated in her mother's kitchen they would watch the annunal kennel club dog show. It was watching these shows that she began to gain an interest in shih tzus and started researching them. One of the comments that I thought was really funny was when she said "If peopole checked out their potential mates the way we do our homework on dogs, jobs, real estate--you name it-- perhaps we would make better choics and enjoy more lasting relationships." When I think about it I can say that I have spent more time researching cars, computers, appliances, than I did checking out my first husband. In his case I did not research. To be truthful I didn't do much better with my second husband, it is just that he turned out to be much, much better suited to me and my personality. He is also a kinder, more considerate person with a more pleasing personality and better moral fiber.
Next she shares about that the clues for meaning that you are looking for are not necessarily in the things that scream loudly, interrupting your thoughts. She equate these loud things to television commercials. We keep coming back, according to Michelle, to that which "has been misplacd among your efforts at survival." To me that means we keep coming back to what we think is our purpose, direction, focus in life. However, she gives us a caveat that it isn't always what we expected it to be. Again I can certainly agree with that statement. Whenever I reflect back on my life course I certain did not expect to arrive at this place. It was at this point where she becomes certain that she is going to get a dog.

Chapter 2: The Value of Good Neighbors

I found this chapter hilarious. In particular I really enjoyed how God can have such a sense of humor that he requires us to do the thing that we most did not want to do or plan to do. In the author's case it was to get a dog when she had been complaining a great deal about the behavior of dogs and dog owner's in her building. However, it was a little less than hilarious when she got to the section she calls "Paws to Reflect" when she addressed the behavior of those who call themselves Christian but whose actions and attitudes are less than Christ-like. Those who demand that everyone believe as they believe and practice their religion the same they do. That one I was able to silently say "I don't do that" but then she got to those of us who are not disciplined and orderly, who tend to selfishly see their time as they own to do what they want to do. God's purpose for wanting the author to get a dog was that he was convicting her of being selfish and self-consumed according to her. She used the example of Paul on the road to Damacus. She then shared how meeting a woman walking her dog had been her own "Road to Damacus" convicting moment. The woman shared how much better her life was after she got a dog.

A New Book

Today's blog starts another new book. This one is Lessons from a Girl's Best Friend: What my Dogs Taught me About Life, Love, and God by Michelle McKinney Hammond. As a dog lover the title intrigued me. In the first chapter Michelle tells us about her initial distain for all pets and dogs in particular. She equates this to those people who miss out on all that God has to offer because of past experiences. She also comments on how we have distorted what "Fear of the LORD" is really all about. Michelle shares that what they miss out on is much like what she missed out on with her misunderstanding about the joys of having a dog.
My two dogs are precious to me even though they can be a nuisance at times. They can also be loving, comical, and adoring. Their reactions when I first get home everyday, they are overjoyed and act like it has been days or even weeks since they last saw me. This is a reminder to me of the joy I feel when I spend time with God, particularly after a time of absence. It is also the same when I am in a valley of darkness for some reason. One of my dogs, Dancer a female manchester terrier/chichaua mix, has allergy problems to some of the local grasses and some household scents. When her tummy itches she scoots along the carpet on her stomach. When her nose itches she almost stands on her head in order to scratch her nose on the carpet. Both actions bring my laughter because she just looks so goofy. I believe that God sometimes laughs at me because of the silly, goofy things I do. My other dog Doodlebug is a dachsund/basset mix who is overweight and to see him run down the hall with his ears flying out in a straight line from his head as his stubby little legs propel him at his top speed (which is not very fast) is just to funny. He even seems to be grinning much like a child glad that their parent has come home. There have been times in my life where I wanted to run to the foot of the cross in just that way. My joy over been one of God's children was just that great.
However, the are time when Doodle is grumpy, like when he is buried under the pillows on the sofa asleep and I wake him up. At those times he reminds me that there are times when I feel grumpy about going to church, studying my Bible, or other things I know God wants me to do. Or when he is just lazy and won't move off the sofa and just wants to you scratch his belly reminds me that at times I'm just being lazy instead of doing what God urges me to do. Oh yes, I agree with Michelle there are many lessons my dogs bring me.