Staying Close
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8 (ESV)
My old Mr. Grumbles was a stick-tight guy! If he wasn’t following, or walking right next to me, he was watching every step I took. Once when I fell in the slushy ice in the parking lot, he made such a ruckus that the neighbors came out. I was fine but he would not stop until I was once again standing. (He only weighed 23 lbs.) Certainly not a big dog, but you knew he was present just the way he carried himself. Jerusha Agen (All God’s Creatures) shares a meditation about staying close.
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Ok, Buddy. I need my feet back now.” I looked down at the 140-pound Bernese mountain dog lying on my feet under the table. No movement.
With a chuckle, I pulled my feet out from under Zander’s warm, furry body and rose from the table. Then I walked up the hallway to my home office.
The thudding of large paws pursuing me as I reached the office door was no surprise. I sat at my desk, and Zander squeezed his large bulk under the wooden furniture. It wasn’t enough for him to be in the same room with me. He had to be touching the people he loved. Always. So he maneuvered himself into position to make sure his shoulders made contact with my leg, and he released a deep sigh.
“Silly boy.” A smile cured my mouth as I leaned down and petted Zander. His need for connection could get a little extreme. And it wasn’t always the most convenient thing to be followed by a giant dog who insisted on squishing into every space I visited.
But what if Zander was setting an example for me? Maybe the Lord was using him to teach me something. Zander found peace and comfort from being close to me, his person. Could I find the peace and comfort I craved if I stuck that close to my Father?
In the business of life, I sometimes forget to read God’s Word or spend time talking to Him in prayer. Then I become more stressed, depressed, or anxious. I need to be like Zander, to eagerly draw near to God, knowing that He promises to draw near to me too. And if I stay close, I’ll experience His peace and love for all of my days.
My Lord, I find that nothing else will do,
But follow where thou goest, sit at thy feet,
And when I have thee not, still run to meet.
George MacDonald