Leading a Blind Dog (Stories)
Written by Tony Gaskin
I live in a townhouse with my brother Aaron and my sister-in-law Jana and we get along great. Just before we moved in together Aaron and Jana adopted a rescue dog, a Boston Terrier named Rocco. A few months before his adoption Rocco had a severe infection in both eyes and so they had to be surgically removed. Despite his blindness Rocco still lives life to the fullest. He enjoys playing with his toys, he can still jump on and off the couch, and he remembers where his bed and food bowl are kept. And if you want him to come to you all you have to do is make a repetitive sound like clapping your hands or snapping your fingers.
Sometimes when I’m the only one home it falls on me to take Rocco outside where he can do his business. What I like to do before stepping outside is to stand at the front door and clap my hands and let him find his way to me. Upon hearing my claps, he tilts his head to one side, climbs out of bed… and then anything could happen. If I’m lucky he walks in a straight line along the front side of the couch, past the shoe rack, and directly to my feet. But more often he’ll move towards the centre of the rug, bump against a coffee table leg, and then turn himself in the wrong direction. Occasionally he veers off to his right, bumps into the other couch, and tries going around it which takes him farther from the door than before. And sometimes he gets turned around by a pair of slippers and obliviously starts walking back towards his bed. But it’s all over if Rocco happens to wander into the kitchen, at which point he’ll ignore my clapping and begin searching for crumbs to eat. This is usually when I give up clapping and waiting for him. I’m better off picking him up and carrying him to the door!
All in all the whole process can take anywhere from ten seconds to three minutes, time enough for me to ponder the obvious metaphor for Christian living playing out in front of me. Sure, Rocco may look like a buffoon walking in the wrong direction and bumping into things face-first, but am I any better? Just as Rocco is dependent on me for reaching the front door I am dependent on Jesus’ teachings for living a righteous life that is pleasing to God.
Jesus warns us that the Christian life isn’t always easy. There is no shortage of obstacles that can get in our way and due to our imperfect nature we sometimes let these stumbling blocks discourage and hinder us. Other times we can become distracted by our selfish desires – as with crumbs on the kitchen floor – allowing them to delay our spiritual maturity.
It may seem like an intimidating journey, facing the unknown in pursuit of Christ. But the beautiful thing about this is that God turns our failures and weaknesses into victories and growth opportunities, and by this process we can learn what it means to truly rely on God. Each of us is on a faithwalk towards a greater understanding of our heavenly Father and it’s a process that happens one step at a time. We can’t make it on our own but God is with us even when we can’t see Him, guiding us every step of the way with His Word. And unlike me after I wait for three minutes at the front door, God never runs out of patience for His children. So whenever you find yourself spiritually blocked in life, look to His Word and listen to the direction of His Spirit, for He will make your path straight.
“We live by faith, not by sight” – 2 Corinthians 5:7