Psalm 113
My fear of dogs began when I was young child when our family visited Aunt Evaline and Uncle Fred at their farm. Uncle Fred loved dogs and he would bring home every stray dog he found—a one man Humane Society in the 1940s. As our family turned into the driveway, Uncle Fred would emerge, calling his menagerie of dogs to him. Giving each a good scruff on the head or body, he’d methodically chain each dog to one of the willow trees lining the sidewalk. When the task was done, he’d come jovially to our car, open the doors, and give us each a big hug. I felt safe in his arms.
Aunt Evaline, in her off-white apron, carefully embroidered with colorful flowers, would be standing on the porch beyond, ready to welcome us into their home. I loved to come to her house because she always made lots of good food, had a real player piano in the sitting room, and the upstairs was a haven for little girls to play with her many dolls.
Yet, between her and our car, were four to eight dogs—mostly big dogs in brown, black or white coats. As soon as we would open the gate to walk down that way-too-narrow sidewalk, every one of those canines would begin barking and straining at the chains.
Now, I suppose it is possible that these dogs were just so happy to see us—our canine welcoming committee. I certainly did not feel it that way. As I walked by, I tried to be brave but that walk to the end of that sidewalk seemed to last forever and I was sweating, not from the heat of the day, but the damp sweat of fear! Any trip to the outhouse later in the day forced me to travel that same route.
Fear! From the perspective of a grown woman, I realize that Uncle Fred loved our family but he also loved those big animals he found and befriended on a regular basis.
Is that the way God is? God loves you and me. God also loves those who are quite unlike me, those of a different culture, those with different life-styles, and those we might call, “misfits”. God loves all of his creation. God wants to protect all of us. When danger is lurking around us, we sometimes wonder why God is looking out for “them” as well! It is the child’s thought, why give those awful dogs water and food? Why would God love and protect and care for the “other?”
But then, that is just the God we have! Jesus eats with publicans and sinners. Jesus heals the leper. Jesus meets the Samaritan woman by the well. Jesus interacts with and does kindnesses to the “other.” Why? Because God is in the business of protecting, loving, and caring for all of God’s creation. God wants us to join him in the task.
Prayer: Remove my fear, O God. Help me to see and act as you do! Amen
Song: “Where True Charity and Love Abide” ELW 653