On my holiest and most righteous days I love to start the morning with a quick walk in the neighborhood accompanied by one of the many podcasts that I subscribe to. Most of my podcast subscriptions are of the Biblical persuasion. I need the early morning time with the Lord so we can have conversations about my day and I can remind him how much I need him on a daily basis. As if he wasn’t aware, I like to remind him I am hopeless without him.
On this particular day I was listening to a Podcast by Steven Furtick with Elevation Church and the sermon was called, “The God of Pieces”. It was referenced how God deals with us piece by piece and the more he deals with us, the more peace we will have. The theme throughout the podcast centered around the word “pieces”. While I was deeply enthralled by the teaching and sincerely appreciating the wisdom I was gathering, I suddenly felt something jump on me from behind and possibly lick my arm. All I know is that it was heavy and wet or sweaty.
While I do love all of my neighbors I truly never have been licked or pounced on by an adult in my neighborhood. It instantly sent fear through my body, so I quickly turned around to see who was trying to get me. As I started to turn and look, I noticed a Pit Bull dog prancing beside me as if we were long lost friends. My eyes did a double take. While I don’t have a true fear of dogs, I do have a security alert that naturally goes off when I see an unattended Pit Bull. I could not get over the irony of my Podcast being named “The God of Pieces” while I was being ambushed by this furry doggie. I gently asked the Lord, if I was about to end up in pieces. Trying to keep my fear at bay, I remembered that dogs can smell fear. I kept walking and trying to act like nothing was wrong, he walked beside me, he truly appeared to be smiling every time I glanced in his direction.
At this point I ascertained that he was possibly a friendly Pit, so I asked him if he knew Jesus. Yes, I was praying under my breath that I wouldn’t end up in pieces and singing a praise and worship song while we were walking. He never growled when I mentioned the name of Jesus so I assumed he was a spirit filled Pit. Once I was convinced he was going to let me live I began to take photos of him to post on all social media platforms because I knew he was someone’s baby. I kept checking my phone to see if anyone was going to claim him but it was early in the morning and no bites. No pun intended.
Somewhere along the way he decided to go all the way home with me. As soon as we reached my porch I intended on sitting with him until he was claimed. Our peaceful porch sitting was abruptly cut short when my outside cat, Bella, decided she was not so convinced that he was a spirit filled Pit Bull. She went in for the kill.
It all happened in a furry flash. Bella pounced, jumped and hissed so loud that I started to run too. I have never seen her in fight mode. My walking buddy, the spirit-filled Pit Bull, became so scared that he left screaming and wailing. I don’t think he was actually injured, but like me, with all of that racket from the cat, he didn’t want to hang around and find out.
With all of the chaos I lost track of my phone but when I paused to check it, I had no less than ten messages advising who the owner was and how to reach him. As soon as I looked up, the owner was in my driveway. I covered the full story of all that happened.
Champ (I learned his name later) and I were praising the Lord, singing and listening to the preacher when all of the sudden this evil cat (I may not have mentioned it was my cat) came out of nowhere and chased poor Champ into the unknown. We spoke a little while longer then he set off to find his precious pup who was assaulted by the feline.
When the owner left to look for his dog all I could think was…this is exactly how Jesus pursues us. Champ was up to no good, he left the safety of his happy and peaceful home to wonder the streets and explore. Knowing he belonged in a gated yard. The owner knew that he into mischief, loved him anyway, knew that he was possibly injured but set out to find him and bring him home. I would venture to say that the owner knew that Champ would wonder again but he pursued him anyway.
John 15 teaches us about the parable of the lost sheep. He will seek out the lost sheep leaving ninety nine behind. When he finds the lost sheep, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and carries him back home where he belongs. Then he asks the neighbors to rejoice with him that he has found his lost sheep.
I am so grateful that Champ made it back home safe and eternally grateful that God didn’t let me go to pieces that day.
Reba Phelps jreba.phelps@gmail.com
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