Puppies

A close friend of mine just got a puppy. He tweeted and facebooked pictures of the black lab puppy and named it Atreyu from the movie The Never Ending Story. I have to admit that I was instantly envious of his awesomely named puppy. I would love to have a puppy right now. As my friend continued talking about the puppy he confessed that he was already overwhelmed by it. I think he has only had it for a week or so. He admitted to loving the original idea of the puppy, and was just not loving the reality of it. I instantly felt okay with the fact that I do not have a dog. I’m pretty sure I would end up the same way. I think my life is too busy to fit in dog time.

The Superbowl was this past weekend and as a Wisconsin native I, along with all of the other fair-weather fans, cheered on the Green Bay Packers. I’m not the biggest sports fan in the world, so the majority of the game was spent connecting with friends. During the last quarter I had a conversation with a friend who said he was taking time to be away from “the church”. He said that was frustrated that a majority of his friends live a “two faced life”. He is frustrated that they profess to be Christians, but don’t live according to what he thinks is right. We somehow ended up talking about Hosea toward the end of the conversation. I have to admit that I wasn’t listening as intently as I should have since the Superbowl was just wrapping up. But he was so frustrated by the places that his friends were. I just encouraged him to help them see the truth that he so clearly lives.

Tonight I decided to read the book of Hosea. The book is in the Old Testament and draws parallels between Hosea’s marriage to a prostitute and God’s commitment to the nation of Israel. Hosea is told by God to marry the prostitute, and so he does. I mean, you can’t really argue with God, right? So they marry and have kids, but she leaves, and returns to her previous life of prostitution. God tells Hosea to go rescue her again and again from the life of prostitution that she returns to. The parallel is that Israel continually leaves the love of God to return to destructive behavior that they have always known simply because it’s familier. It’s what they have always known, and God’s way just seems more difficult.

I often feel like I’m Hosea’s prostitute wife, or God’s “chosen people” Israel. I quickly forget the reality of my situation. It’s so easy to forget that God’s plan is better. I have to admit that I even willingly walk the opposite direction, forgetting what I’ve been saved from. In my reading from Frances Roberts’ book he writes…

“The fool shall not discern the value and shall cast aside great treasure. The practiced eye knows the true worth of a gem and shall not let it escape him. Thus shall you be in spiritual matters. Train your eye to discern that which is of true worth, and let it not escape you.”

I fear that I am often the fool, casting aside the great treasure of my relationship with God. Training my eye to see the worth seems so foreign. But diamonds are not beautiful rocks when they are in their pre-cut and polished form. I am the prostitute, the diamond in the rough. I quickly forget that God is refining my character.

It’s like my buddy who loves the idea of having a dog, but the reality is so far from the ideal. I want this relationship with God, but when it’s tough, takes time and sacrifice in order to be refined, I want to go back. But everyone loves an obedient, disciplined, and groomed dog. We even call them “man’s best friend”. I have to remind myself that God see’s my potential. I’m still a puppy, but God see’s me as the well groomed and disciplined individual that I’m capable of being. He disciplined Israel, in order to refine them, and I’m in the same process.

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