Perilous Paths
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2 (ESV)
No, the Leonberger isn't the absolute biggest dog breed, but it's definitely one of the largest, ranking among giants like Mastiffs, Irish Wolfhounds, and Great Danes, known for being very heavy and tall, with males reaching up to 170 lbs. and over 31 inches tall, earning its nickname as a "gentle lion" (Google). Jerusha Agen (All God’s Creatures) share a lesson she learned from her own dog, Galen.
*****
I threw the toy as far as I could, and it fell into the snow. Galen loped toward it but didn’t take a direct route as he usually would. Instead, the giant Leonberger ran along the easier paths he had already worn into the foot of snow. It took him longer to reach the toy by the indirect route, and when he reached the limits of the “easy path,” he stopped. He stared at the toy, which was lying only four feet from him. Then he turned and walked away, sticking to his path leaving the toy behind.
For the rest of the winter, Galen continued his path-following behavior. When fresh snow first fell, he’d leap through the drifts with joyful abandon, forging new paths. But as soon as paths were created, he stayed on them, never wanting to venture away to enjoy other parts of the yard or play with toys.
I had noticed Galen was staying on paths rather than venturing into untouched snow, but I didn’t realize how extreme he’d gotten. An adolescent Leonberger passing up the chance to play? Odd, to say the least. I couldn’t make sense of his behavior, hut I laughed, because I saw myself in Galen. Sometimes I’m reluctant to leave certain paths too—not in snow, but in life. It’s scary to deviate from the popular, well-worn path of our culture. Society, friends, and family may expect us to fit in and follow the common path. But what happens when the path follows the world instead of Christ?
I no longer belong to the world. I belong to a Savior who leads me on His own paths. They may not be popular, but they will lead me in righteousness all the way home.
Make me to know Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4 (ESV)
Loving Lord, thank You for showing us that the popular path is not always best. Please make us keenly aware of Your creatures’ habits and all the lessons we can learn from them. AMEN.