The Human Whisperer

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST comes to us from the newer (and much cuter :-) half of this blog's writing tandem. Enjoy!

So one day I was at home doing laundry and I had an RST because of a bulldog on TV. It's true. I was watching the Dog Whisperer. For those of you who don't know about him, he's that guy on the National Geographic Channel (Cesar Millan) who is able to make 'death-row' dogs behave in shockingly short amounts of time and with methods that wouldn't occur to us average, non-dog-whisperer types.

On this particular show, The Dog Whisperer took a whacked-out Bulldog (who was snarling and nipping at everyone, even his family, for no good reason) and had him whipped in one day. He didn't put the dog on a chain and jerk him around. He didn't even kick him. He just forced him to the ground and held him still a few times whenever he got out of line. That's it.

The Dog Whisperer is surprisingly philosophical about what he does. He explained what he did for the dog by saying: 'The dog doesn't want to be out of control. He doesn't like that feeling. When I remind him that I am above him by holding him down and keeping him still, he becomes secure and calms down.'

What The Dog Whisperer said reminded me of the way some of my newborn patients fuss and cry--for no good reason--until I swaddle them up tight: then they fall right to sleep or start to quietly look around. They weren't hungry or in need of a diaper change. They just needed to feel right.

So...what about me? If dogs need a pack leader and babies need to feel held, what do I need in order to feel right? I think it's easy to negate and minimize the parameters that God puts on us; like keeping one day just for Him, not being fake, not being immoral...yet I'm starting to realize that all of those things (there are only 10 anyway) are exactly what we need to feel...well...swaddled.

It might be appropriate for us (like the bulldog) to realize that there's someone above us. We don't have to. But maybe, just maybe, He said (and did) what he said (and did) because he knows us like the Dog Whisperer knows dogs. Guess that makes God the Human Whisperer?

"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and your children after you..." Deuteronomy 4:39, 40

You've been prayed for today...

The Law Of The Garbage Truck

Hey, Y'all,

Today's thought arrives to us via Dena (thanks!) and, as usual, I'm quite sure it only applies to me (he says, tongue firmly in cheek :-)

How often do you let other people affect your mood negatively? Do you let a bad driver, a rude waiter, a curt boss (or an insensitive employee) ruin your day? Unless you're a robot, for at least an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a godly person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's truly important.

Five years ago I vividly (re)learned this lesson in the back of a taxi in Chicago. I hopped in the cab and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and just missed the other car by mere inches!

At this point, the driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us (and showing us the one-fingered salute). My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really, honestly, friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained, 'Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage--full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people. Just leave it and move on.'

Sounds a lot like the second half of Romans 12 which is chock-full of practical advice on how we ought to live with one another (here's a taste, but check it out for yourself!):

Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud...do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends...On the contrary:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...

And it concludes with my second-favorite verse (v.21) of this passage, a killer summary statement if ever there was one:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Oh, and you were wondering about my favorite verse here? It's v.12--also words to live by if ever there were any, especially in the application of this lesson:

Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.

You've been prayed for today...