I read a story recently which really captured me.
During the tornado which swept through Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011, a family dog named Mason was swept away by the funnel cloud. Houses and cars were being tossed around like toys. In an instant Mason was gone. Each day the family returned hoping against hope their dog had survived and found his way home. It was all empty until three weeks later when they returned to their devastated house, Mason was there. No one knows how far he crawled on his two broken legs. His shattered bones looked ready to pierce the skin. Mason also suffered from severe dehydration and had dropped to half his normal weight. But he was alive!And he was grimly determined to get home to the people who loved him. You can imagine the reunion he had with his family.
He knew he was lost.
He knew his little world was tossed upside down.
He knew he needed help.
So he dragged himself home to the people who loved him.
Made me wonder though. Why is it we often run from that which is good for us, from people who love us and care about us. Why is it we run from God? Why don’t we run TO and not run away? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Sometimes shame causes me to run away.
Yeah, easy to do. Been there do that.
Many don’t know what direction to go
Very true.
I don’t know anyone who runs away from what is good for them. I am sure there are some people like that. I suppose they just don’t understand what is good or they are addicts or have some sort of problem.
I think a lot of people don’t run to God because there are a lot of hypocritical judgemental me and mine conservative God followers getting in the way.
Sadly, I know some who do. Sadly, your assessment of some is right about the God followers also. Wish it wasn’t.
Because we are bound to sin.
“No one seeks for God.”
We are born with our backsides to God. He has to call and choose us, through the hearing of His gospel.
We are “not born by the will of man…but of God.” (Gospel of John)
It boggles my mind that Christians still think that they are the one’s who make the ‘decision’.
our theology is different Stephen. You already know that. I don’t deny the calling of the Gospel…that is how He calls. But we still respond. Yeah, we see things differently. 🙂
Yes, Bill, we do.
One day you’ll come around to a less humanistic and more Christo-centric view 😀
What can I say except I disagree mine is humanistic? 🙂
We run from God because we want to be the god in our life. Good post Bill
Pretty sound thought Betty. Thanks.
The fallen world uses our senses against us. We, like the origin of the original sin, want to be “as gods”.
Sad that the instincts of an animal is often better than that of us who are created in the Father’s image. That dog is a little tougher than the one I wrote about today!
True Floyd. the flesh likes its accolades. I liked your story as well. 🙂
Pride. I don’t always like admitting I need others to help me, that I’m wrong. Also, want I want is not always what’s best for me, and I struggle focusing on what’s best over what I want sometimes.
I am the same way Kari. I THINK I know what is best, but I end up finding out it isn’t.
I think we run from good things because we believe the lie we’ll be missing out on something better. It’s a trap that many fall into with relationships, jobs, money, even churches. If I’m left to my own to decide “good,” I know I’m in trouble. I need His heart and Spirit to guide into all truth. Good discussion, Bill. Thank you.
You are right Jason. The world has conditioned us to much to see things through its eyes. We settle for less than the best.
That’s a great illustration Bill. I think in my case, I run because I don’t want to face the truth and because I’m under the false impression that if I have a little more time and can get everything worked out on my own without their help.
Common malady Caleb…thinking time will allow us to work things out. 🙂
Hi Bill Cycle guy,
What a lovely story of this dig pursuing non-stop what he knew meant home and safety, despite everything. Thanks for this picture.
Nice to talk with you again,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
I guess sometimes you need to get that desperate to know when you should just return home.
Your story brought tears to my eyes as I pictured that little dog.
My son teaches me more and more about God as my Father. When my son is scared, tired, ill, or whatever, he runs to me for comfort and answers.
That challenges me to run to God more.
I can’t do fix things on my own (even though I often believe I can). I need God every moment of every day.