I read a story awhile back about a family that was on vacation out west somewhere. They were camping in a national forest wilderness area. While hiking one day with the kids they somehow had gotten separated from and lost the family dog. As a dog owner myself I know that it's not unusual for a dog to go wandering off when out in the woods, as they are in hog heaven with all the exciting sounds, sights and smells. I know, our Golden and Labrador were the same way. However, this dog did not come back. The family exhausted several days calling and searching for their beloved pet. They were panicked and quite forlorn with apprehension and guilt over his loss. They reported the dog to the local sheriff and humane society and even put up makeshift reward posters with their phone numbers and address if he was found. No such luck. They went home in a state of grieving and shock as if they had lost a precious sibling or parent. Time went on and the family moved on from their loss until almost a year later. Their beloved family dog showed up one day on the front stoop of their house looking ragged, dirty and somewhat emaciated but alive. Needless to say the tears and joy were overflowing. Now I'm not talking about leaving the dog at the county park down the road. These folks were hundreds of miles from home in a vast wilderness area. We would get lost let alone a dog! I am amazed at stories like this because of the improbable odds and seemingly impervious obstacles that had to be overcome for this dog to even make it home! Now some veterinarians call this a natural homing instinct. That all our dogs and some cats have this innate ability deep within themselves with help from the magnetic poles and their internal compass and memory to somehow navigate their way back home. But by far, most of the documented cases are in the tens of miles not hundreds. I tend to look at this a little differently.
This dog had two very powerful attributes I believe which helped it get home; unconditional love for it's owners and unwavering faith. Two traits that we as children of our dear Lord often lack in their fullest abundance. What other explanation could you give for this? Did someone find the dog and keep it only to feel guilty later on and release it near it's home? Possible not probable. Did the dog just want to see the world and took advantage of it's freedom? Not likely. Whatever the story I'll stay with my version. Why? Because both faith and love are the two strongest drives or lack of we have in this world that enables us plain old ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Story after story of great human accomplishments that amaze and confound us and the experts are often attributed by the people that lived through them as being not of their own conscious accord. In other words, where they in their benign limitations gave up, something or Someone did not. In that moment of great tumult they found the strength to change, or go on or not give up. It is then in the testimony of these people that they tell the truth of their victory. That it wasn't them, their ability, their knowledge or physical strength. They just knew they couldn't give up! I believe it was their faith. Faith in God or from God with grace and favor that supernaturally took over and escorted them through the great storm. Notice the humility and different demeanor these people have after their ordeals. It's almost as if they have been transformed from the inside out by their life-changing events. They have a new found reverence for life and it's privilege. You call it what you may, but if it's not from us naturally as most of these people attest that it isn't, then what or better Whom is it from? I know, and if you don't believe me then just ask the dog!
Matthew 17:20
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
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