“YOUR DOG IS BARKING and I can't
sleep.” I said. There I was, standing on my neighbor's porch at
one o'clock in the morning. My hair was disheveled as I stood there
with my bath robe that had been hastily slapped on. I just wanted to
rest. I've had several neighbors occupy this rental home next to
mine over the years, and each one had presented their own problems.
Come to think of it, there was a dog involved every time...One renter
had a dog that was threatening physical harm to every passerby (it
was not on a leash) and would race to the edge of the front yard
acting as though it would pounce on a person at any minute.
Then there was the renter's dog that
was never let out of the back yard, never cared for, and physically
died before it's time from neglect. The dog barked constantly
seemingly begging for it's master's attention. It was a
heartbreaking scene to behold every day. It was even left out in
below freezing temperatures as it's owner had fallen asleep on his
couch from a marijuana induced stupor. I remember pounding on his
door to beg him to take his dog in as the marijuana smoke rolled out
the front door when he answered it.
The current renter's dog barks
frequently day and night. The dog is chained to the fence for hours
out of fear that the dog will run off or be stolen like the last one
was. Of course my bedroom window is right next to that fence. When
this man and his family moved in there were immediate problems. The
sound system in his vehicle was monstrous. The sound when turned up,
would literally shake the ground, my windows, and the homes on either
side. I literally could not hear my own television as I tried to
listen to the days news and events. I stood outside on my porch one
time just staring at the situation hoping a “message” would be
sent to TURN DOWN THE MUSIC. For some time, week after week, as the
neighbor pulled into his driveway, music blasted out that could be
heard miles away.
The next day I reflected on the other
dogs that seem to bark incessantly in our daily lives, and there are
a lot of them. Maybe the recognition of them would cause us to
rethink how we're handling life. They are the possible bad medical
diagnosis, a car breaking down periodically, a continuing financial
crisis that seems never ending, or just took much on “our plate”
for a season. Is it the job situation that is a daily issue and
irritant? I've tried so very hard to let it go...I desire to enter
into the “rest” of God that He speaks of in His word and to not
be so easily angered, upset, and devastated by life's events.
Finding the peace of God under girding us continually in every
situation presented by life does not come all at once. It's found in
the journey. It is about trusting God in every daily circumstance.
Trust is not born out of ease in this life, it is birthed through
it's hardships.
My point is this. There are a lot of
“barking dogs” in life aren't there? They just won't go away.
They disrupt “our” world, bring chaos, unease, and
hardship...sometimes it's severe. Those darn dogs make us feel out
of control with no relief in sight. The inconvenience of the
situation slams us like a hammer. Anger is usually the first line of
defense when these barking dogs enter our sphere of life. How dare
they turn our world upside down and cause such disruption! What we
were doing before the sudden onslaught and interruption was
important! The next line of defense it to try to take control of the
situation. Maybe the “barking” will stop then. Finally, the
last phase is a good cry to release the frustration all the barking
has caused. It's a vicious cycle that is never ending.
All of this reflection began stirring
within me after I walked away from my neighbor's door and I
wonder...will his barking dog open a door relationally in
conversation to reaching out in the love of Christ? We cannot let
the “barking dogs” sway us away from trusting the love of God
that reaches out to those around us who do not know Him.
“Great is the peace of
those who love Thy law, and
nothing shall by any means
offend them.”
(Psalm 119:165)
