Sam's Fifth Spiritual Lesson

Fifth Spiritual Lesson

Waiting on the Lord
Every adult I know remembers their childhood excitement of Christmas. There was the daily count down in anticipation of the gifts. Will we get what we asked for, or maybe something better? I know, I know, I was sufficiently aware of the reason for the holiday. It was centered on baby Jesus’ birth. However, He was still just a baby and as such was unaware of what His entrance would have on people in the future. As a mature child, I was certain that Jesus would understand and would approve of my interest in gifts, as long as He was in first place.

Perhaps the night before was the most excruciating. Can’t sleep, but you must. Santa was coming, or in some kids understanding St. Nick had delegated the delivery of presents to parents. It really didn’t matter who drew the short straw for the assignment. What counted was it would happen as sure as a decorated Christmas tree.

I recall one Christmas that I formed a dummy in my bed out of a pillow, Roy Rogers pajamas, an undersize basketball and a stocking hat in order to convince the Christmas Delivery Team (be it Santa and his elves or his minions, my Mom and Dad) that I was fast asleep in my room. It demonstrated I was playing by the rules. Then I stealthily made my way to the living room to observe the treasures that would be stowed under the tree. 

Alas, I felt guilty, panicked, and beat a hasty retreat to my room and disposed of my look-alike dummy. I had now realized that it probably lacked the similarity to me that I had first believed.

As an adult I do miss that heart-thumping anticipation. My dog, Sam, experiences the same anticipation of my returns when I leave him for a trip. However, the concept of time escapes him. I have yet to see him understand if I will be gone an hour or days. We humans have the gift of understanding the calendar and the clock. Sam doesn’t.

All he knows that when I go away and tell him I will be back, he is saddened. The depths of his sorrow is dependent on my lingering farewells. He has learned that my prolonged goodbyes are indicative of how many meals will be fed to him by someone else.

According to my wife or neighbor, when I am gone, he mopes around and doesn’t eat for the first day. He spends much of the time watching the drive and listening for a familiar sound of my vehicle motor. 

If I call and give an imminent ETA, my wife tells him to, “Watch for Daddy.” He perks up knowing it is soon. He stands guard, listening and watching the road knowing that in the same way I disappeared I will reappear. 

Although Sam does not recognize days, weeks, or hours, he holds to the knowledge that I will return. Nothing can convince him otherwise. His master will appear again and be there to love, guide, encourage, and tend to his needs. All will be well once again. Sam celebrates my return by running laps around the yard as fast as he can go.

As humans, we want God to be present at all times and give us directions in life. But we all know that sometimes there is silence that meets our prayers. This silent interval stimulates our faith. Or should. Waiting upon the Lord is like the growth of grapevines during a drought. Vine dressers know that although the plants may struggle through a drought, it forces them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of water. The summer drought will cease and the next year the vines will be hardier and more lush from their struggle and produce a better quality of fruit. 

Just as Sam knows I will return at some point, we need to wait upon the Lord. It occurred to me, that the difference is Sam knows I am gone, but where I went, or for how long is a foreign concept. Still, he waits for me and it never occurs to him that I will not return. 

In our relationship with the Lord, we have his Word that He is with us and always will be. We will experience what we think is unanswered prayer, and it could be so severe we feel rejected and dismayed. That is the time to 'root' ourselves in faith. My dog has no doubt that one day he will pick up life as enjoyed before with me. Unhappiness and distance, will all be over. It seems Sam has shown more faith in me, than I sometimes do in my Master. One more lesson learned.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the Lord.” Psalms 27:14 (KJV)