[New post] Basking in the Warmth and Safety of Your “Old Dog Spot”
Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter posted: " Let me start today by listing two seemingly insignificant and unrelated facts: As I've mentioned in previous posts, in my family, we've generally had at least a couple of dogs as part of our family. Also, since I live in Colorado, we've reached t" Master's Canvas - Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter
Let me start today by listing two seemingly insignificant and unrelated facts:
As I've mentioned in previous posts, in my family, we've generally had at least a couple of dogs as part of our family.
Also, since I live in Colorado, we've reached the time of year when the likelihood of seeing cold or otherwise unpleasant weather increases significantly.
If you'll indulge me for a few moments, I'll make the connection between these two factoids.
Just recently, a day came along that was very windy, and that wind smuggled in frigid temperatures with it. Since I try not to let the weather keep me from my daily walk, I bundled up and braved the elements for a brisk and quite chilly journey.
When I returned home, as I was thawing out, I noticed that one of my dogs had found a small patch of carpet near my desk that was awash in radiant sunlight. She was sound asleep, blissfully unaware of the raging wind racing past the window not more than a few yards away from her. In the warmth and safety of her "old dog spot" (as my wife and I have come to refer to such havens), she dreamed her doggy dreams, probably chasing the rabbits I never let her chase around our neighborhood. Probably catching one, too.
Here's why I bring this up: just like our dogs have all had a knack for finding their "old dog spot" to enjoy a nap unconcerned by what's happening around them, so should we have a place of warmth and safety, a shelter from whatever storms are raging in our lives. As followers of Christ, we should listen to his thoughts on this:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Adding to that, thinking about the small patch of carpet that's radiant in the sunlight reminds me of the opening verses of John's Gospel, particularly these words:
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Jesus is the bedrock upon which we should build the foundation of our lives. If we do that--and I mean live it, day after day--we will find ourselves basking in the safety and warmth of his light no matter what is happening in the world around us. This is how we are to find the peace he offers us, the peace that is totally baffling to all who are not yet followers of Christ, and even to some who are.
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