There is a tail flapping profusely on my thigh. The woman sitting next to me smiles at me with the “Isn’t he cute face.” And being the law abiding citizen I am, I smile back with the “Why is your dog on the plane?!” face.
The four hour flight from Colorado to Orlando took a turn from enjoyable to tolerable.
Even though I know I didn’t like the dog, I can’t imagine rejoicing in the death of anything. But, in a court of law, multiple adult witnesses and testimonies (my grandmother is also in on the scandalously recalled events) would inevitably prove me guilty.
The current reality of a live snout sniffing my arm didn’t allow me the luxury of reminiscing for too long. The space in the window seat, which I typically prefer, is all of sudden stuffy and restricting when there is dog hair grazing my side. I felt trapped.
The removal of my arm from the shared arm rest and my ‘squeezed in’ posture is my sign to the nice lady, “I’d prefer not to sit next to your dog, but I will tolerate him.”
Lucky for me this nice lady could understand sign language, she repositioned her pet. It was as if she’d said, “I’m sorry.” If you are anything like me all guilty people are jerks until that say “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry is an instant admission, “I’m wrong.” The confession made me a little more relaxed. I started to think, “Is this so bad? I mean, that is a cute dog, and he must have been aching to get out that little bag. Poor thing has been in there for hours.” This woman’s simple gesture to move her pet in response to my body language changed my whole experience in just seconds.
And then it happened, the inspired moment. If I’m honest I have sin in my life that I treat the same way this woman treats her dog. Sometimes I keep in a bag and if I or it needs comfort, I pull it out and pet it, nurse it. There are even times that I’d rather not be bothered by it, but I still tolerate it.
If only I could have the same attitude my parents claim I had about Coco’s death about sin! Ahh!
I do remember seeing Coco in the house and running the opposite way. I would squirm and make ugly faces when she walked by. Fleeing, squirming at the sight, morphing myself into any shape possible to stay away from it should be my reasonable response to anything that doesn’t bring glory and honor to my Savior. And when that thing dies, I should rejoice!
Oh Father, how I long for the things you hate to irritate me continuously! ROAR!
Back to reality, I feel my allergies begin to flare up and I know at that moment, even after the Holy Spirit uses a very “everyday” thing to expose my heart, I know I’m not going to ask the nice lady to put her dog up. And I know I’m not going to move. Instead, I reason with myself and say, “Suck it up self, the flight is only another 45 minutes.” I can’t hold it in any longer, I start sneezing profusely, scratching my noise, clearing my throat, until the nice lady says, “Are you allergic to dogs.”
Finally, I thought, sense knocked on my brain, “Yes!” I exclaimed. “I’m so sorry, I can put him up,” she said.
It was that easy.
Ironically, I can find myself in the same cycle with sin. I do it, it irritates me, I confess it, and then, I pet it, tolerate it. Why not turn to God specifically about the sin? Why not take a fearless stand against it? I don’t know? Maybe because I kind of like my sin. The problem is that I’m not dead in my trespasses anymore, I’m alive in Christ! I’m redeemed, bought back and the Holy Spirit causes me to have somewhat of an allergic reaction sin. Thank You Jesus! According to Ephesians Chapter 1 (and the entire Bible), I have everything I need in Christ to stand against the sin in my life!
My parents insist that I gave no indication that Coco bothered me in any way, until he died. Unbelievable. How could I live so long with something that really irritated me?
I honestly don’t believe the patterns in my life are unique. Here’s my prayer for us.
Father, you are my Lord, my God. Thank you for your Son in whom we are holy and blameless!!!!! That’s crazy and magnificent! Thank you that in you we have redemption and forgiveness of sin. Your grace is rich! Thank you for making your will known to us. Your desire is that we be united with you. Thanks for your Holy Spirit that is a mark of our allegiance to you and promise that you will come back for us. Father, we confess that our lives don’t always line up with this reality. We are often drawn away by our own desires which often lead to sin. Help us practice turning to you, completely honest, trusting you for the completion of our holiness, until you return! Amen!
If you want to know what that really means check this out, click on the ‘Meet God’ tab and holla at me!:) http://darealtruth.com/
