two different stories, same event

Here's what happened in our eyes.

As usual, the road was calling my name. I answered. Wearing my favorite blue runners that are years old, with holes all over, my running outfit, a pink toque and blue mitts...I set off in the light rain for the river. I am running a lot faster than I think I have ever ran before. I almost feel like I am running for the entire time instead of jogging which is great. I feel better and I feel faster. I race myself and every run counts. I have a really hard time with relaxing runs...I can't seem to stay slow. Today is no different.

I am almost to the river. After I pass the water treatment plant, there is a bend in the road, then a house, and then the hill that leads down to the river. I am racing myself now. As I pass the house, dogs start barking. It scares me a little, but the dogs normally never bother me...and when I am frightened, I keep going and the dogs usually don't leave their property. One of the dogs is loose. He is a rottweiler. He runs to the edge of his property and barks at me. I slow down and yell "Stop". He stops. I start to back towards the river. He lunges at me again. I stop and yell "stop". He stops. Again, I back away from him towards the river. Again he lunges. I yell "Stop" and he stops. I do not move again. I stand. And he stands and barks at me in the road. I am scared and I ask God, out loud...with my voice...to help me. Mere moments later a white truck appears at the top of the hill. It pulls into the driveway of the house and looks as though it is going to head back to town. I yell out that I am scared of the dog. The man asks if I want him to shoot it. I say no. suddenly, I feel as though that it is. My help is over...I think he is going to drive away. I ask him to help me. "I need help". The man then backs his truck down the hill...in between me and the dog. I jump in the back. As the man drives away, the dog chases the truck for a while. Once I feel safe, I ask him to let me off so I can continue my run. The man ends up being my friend Nancy's best friend, and my friend...Kevin. I thank him. I don't run again. I cry all the way home. Half way home, another local friend of mine, Chester, slows down his truck to say Hi. I ask for a ride home. I am too emotional to walk anymore. He drives me home and Nancy is there to give me a hug. Kevin had gone straight to her to tell her about the dog and I . I am so blessed.


Here's how I am going to learn from it.

God has a beautiful way of using the road to talk to me. I hear the road call my name...so I go to run...but I always find out that I was wrong. It was God calling me out to spend time with him. Today is no different. God called me out to spend time with him. I am learning to hear his voice and today I was half expecting to find him out on my run. I did. After the dog attack...I asked God what he wanted me to learn from that situation. Here is what I learned today.

God has a plan for all of us. He has a purpose for our lives and he wants to see us reach the goal. And he will help us. My goal is "the river". My goal is to be the Angela that God created me to be. And there is a path to follow..."the road". But Sometimes, things get in the way of us and our goal. The devil tries to tempt us, lie to us, and scare us. Just like the dog on my run. We say to the devil..."stop" and he stops. But we back away...still towards our goal...but in fear of the lie or temptation. The devil sees we are weak and we call out again "stop". And he stops. Again, we back away, still towards the goal, but with our back to it...instead focusing on the lie, the temptation, the fear. The devil lunges again. Finally, we realize we can't do it on our own. We say "Stop" and then we call out to God to come and save us, rescue us, help us. And God loves us! He has promised to be there for us always...so he helps us. The white truck. And even though God is all-knowing, he desires fellowship with us. We have to ask for help and admit our situation. "I am scared of the dog". "Help me". Then we are rescued.

God wants us to reach the goal. But he wants us to reach it running fast, head first into it, with no fear of what is behind us. He never intended for us to reach our goal, our finish line, backing into it, with our eyes and mind focused on "the dog". How then can we truly enjoy the rich blessings God has in store for us. We can try to lose the devil on our own..."stop". But it's not effective. We are still backing away. We need God's help in all things. Then we will have the assurance that the lie and the temptation and the fear is gone and we will be able to confidently turn our eyes back towards the goal and run again towards it will no fear of what is behind us.


I am broken inside today because of what God is doing in my life. He is breaking me down. But I rejoice, because I know that God is going to build me back up to be more than I can imagine. On our conversation, God reminded me that he knows me very well. He said, "Angela, if you want to have a mansion in heaven made out of pickles...you can have it. But I assure you, what I have prepared for you will drive pickles completely out of your mind."

Well, reader...that means that heaven is going to be unimaginably perfect. And I can't wait to hang out with God for the rest of eternity. So press on in your faith and do not let the "dogs" slow you down. I promise you...He is there and He is just waiting for you to call out to Him. God will answer. I know it!

God Bless you.