If He Only Knew

Over the last few days my wife, myself, and a friend have been trying to capture a homeless dog.  He showed up on the front porch of a house beside the church just after the occupant passed away.  It’s rather strange that he seemed to appear out of nowhere.  Since he was nameless and we had no knowledge of his history, Phyllis decided to call him Tiny; a name that is more than suitable for his small size.  In our attempt to win him over we have discovered a few things. He is very fearful, anti-social and lacks trust. Yet, on the other hand his intelligence and survival skills far exceed his stature. We have tried feeding, talking, and trapping in an effort to rescue him but have had no success. When we try to approach him he runs off the porch to the back of the house or to the neighbor’s yard. When we set the trap he avoided it completely as if he knew our intentions.  All our efforts have left us exasperated; we have run out of options. On the way to church this morning Phyllis looked over, saw him in his usual place and gave a heart touching response. “If he only knew, he could live like a king.” Words were never truer spoken.  Any dog that finds itself at the Bewley’s is treated as royalty. Our pets are fed when hungry, nursed when sick, and pampered when in need of attention; “If he only knew.” His world could change with just one act of obedience.  This reminds me of the occasion when Jesus tearfully stood looking upon his beloved people and uttered the following words: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” (Matthew 23:37 NLT) Their Messiah wanted to rescue them but they fought the very initiatives that could bring deliverance.  Could not the same be said of us? God reaches out to embrace us, to love us, to save us, yet we pull away in distrusting fear. His only intent is to provide safety and to treat us like kings; “If we only knew!”