I’m way too much like my dog.

And yet not enough.

Confusing?  Tell me about it.

Summer is here, and for me that means early morning walks with the lovely Mandibles of Death.  You may remember this pooch.  Her given name is Amanda, but she has claimed the title Mandibles.  She has earned it, too, being vicious in a way that only fluffy Golden Retrievers can be.

I try to use our daily walk as prayer time.  The fresh morning air and invigorating exercise are supposed to free up my mind for communion with God.  That’s the plan, anyway.  As we cruised along the block today, I couldn’t help but notice that there are ways in which Mandy reminds me, uncomfortably, of myself.  

First of all, the dog has focus issues.  Look, I know it’s common knowledge that dogs are massively ADD, but today I realized that there’s more to it than that.  Mandy can focus, serious laser-like focus, but on things that don’t really matter.  I have seen her stare intently at a blank spot on the concrete while a cat saunters by not ten feet away.  She’s oblivious to the cat, consumed by the nothing.  And I’ve gotta wonder—how often do I do that?  How often am I focused on a blank spot on the concrete while the prize saunters by?

Mandy tries to obey—she really does want to please me—but sometimes she just can’t control those puppy emotions.  She walks with a gentle, stately gait—until she spots another pup coming along the sidewalk.  Then, it’s a psychotic, whirling-dervish-style lungefest.  I, too, try to obey.  God knows, I try to do what pleases Him.  But sometimes, it seems, my puppy emotions get in the way.  I wonder if I look as silly as Mandy…

The pup often wants to do things, like run into the neighbor’s yard sale, that would obviously have bad results.  She needs someone to keep her in line.

As for me?  What do you think?

The pup is fierce from a distance.  She wants to chase that cat (when she notices it).  Once she corners it, however, she finds it prudent to hide behind Dad.

Me?  No comment.

I could mention the fact that the dog still chooses to eat her own waste, and explore that metaphor with all its theological and psychological implications, but my daughter has asked me not to.  Instead, let’s take a look at a few aspects of Mandy’s personality that I should emulate.

The pup wants to be with her people.  Period.  She will drop whatever she is doing in a heartbeat if I call her.  This morning, she was sound asleep on her comfy pillow when I grabbed the leash.  Instant ecstasy.  Just the chance to be with me was enough to make Mandy’s day.

I wonder how it would be if she treated me the way I often treat God.  If she gave me just a few random, distracted moments of her day, and spent that time focused on what treat I’m offering, instead of on being with me.  Better yet, I wonder how it would be if I often treated God the way she treats me.

Because she wants nothing more than to be with me, Mandy is always listening for my call.  Wherever I am in the house, she seeks me out.  She is content so long as her people are nearby…she really needs nothing more to be satisfied than the presence of those she loves.  She is persistent in showing her affection, without embarrassment or self-consciousness.

Yeah, so, the dog is a spaz…but she has worship and adoration nailed.

I have so much to learn.  Even from the dog.