My family decided to adopt a rescue dog a couple years ago. She looks a lot like Toto from the Wizard of Oz and she is an energetic dog who enjoys playing ball in the house. Soon after we got her, she snuck out the front door and ran throughout the neighborhood. As we called her name and tried to encourage her to return "home," she continued to zig and zag to keep away from us. Finally, after she became tired, we were able to catch up with her and return her home. This did not initially bother me, but as we have continued to work with her over the past two years, I have become more overwhelmed and frustrated with her inability to respond to our heeding her by name when she sneaks out the front or back door (which happens more often than I wish when you have four boys going in and out at a rapid succession). I just wish I could stand at door and yell, "Winnie, come here!" and she would come excitedly back home.

When I was speaking this Sunday morning at Zion and Billett United Methodist Church, where I will be through Friday night, the Pastor shared a story about his dog. He said each time he returns home, his dog hears the truck and comes running toward him. If for some reason the dog is not near enough to hear his truck, he will get out of the truck and yell, "Cookie dog," and the dog will come running to him. He used this story to illustrate the passage from John 10:3b-4, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." I found myself a little envious of his dog situation over against my continued frustrations and then I was brought to an image.

How often does God call our name and we run in a different direction? How often do we know the Great Shepherd is trying to bring us back into an alignment with him and we run in the opposite direction for fear of what we would have to give up. This may be taking the image too far or putting on to my dog too many emotions, but we joke that when she gets out it is a "jail break." She seeks what she perceives is absolute freedom, only to discover much later that returning home gives her food, water, shelter, and companionship.

When we run from the Shepherd, we soon discover we are spiritually hungry, out amongst the wolves, and in need of His companionship. He calls us by name and encourages us to follow Him once again.

Are you listening for the voice of the Shepherd as He speaks to you? Are you expectantly following Him each day, knowing that he will provide all you need? Or are you running aimlessly seeking a perceived freedom that ends in emptiness, loneliness, and hunger? Let us each day heed the voice of the Shepherd as He speaks to us. Let us give thanks each day to the Shepherd for leading us into a fuller life.

Prayer: Shepherd, open our ears that we could hear you call us by name. When we are running aimlessly away, thinking there are greater pastures away from you, remind us of the goodness of your love and your provision for our needs. Let us return to you with thanksgiving and excitement knowing that you love us and care for us. We want to know your voice. Amen.