Our Rex

This is Rex. He is an Anatolian Shepard mix. We rescued Rex from a kill shelter two days before his time was up. His sole responsibility in life is to keep the coyotes away. He lays out in the sun with his front paws crossed and lazily lifts his head when he happens to hear a curious noise. And if the noise is curious enough, he will ever so slowly stretch himself up on his feet, and leisurely make his way to investigate. More often than not, he simply lays his head down again and continues on with his slumber. He is perfectly content in his dream world. 

Well, that's the Rex that I see when he doesn't see me, but the moment I journey into the backyard, Rex becomes a bouncing ball of energy. He bounces and pounces with the energy of a five pound puppy. If I don't immediately greet him with a "Sit, Rex," and reach down to pet him, he will pounce on me and gently grab my hand with his mouth to get my full attention. If he sees the light in the bathroom come on at night, I can hear him at the window, waiting to greet me, because he knows I'm sure to call him by name and talk to him before I make my way to bed.

Sometimes as I'm just coasting through my routine life which at times seems so mundane and monotonous, I wonder how differently I would be living if I saw my Master step into my yard or heard His voice call my name. I wonder if I would leap up from the mountain of laundry I'm buried under, drop the cell phone, run from the computer and just pounce on Him, embracing Him with the strength of all that I have. Or would I even recognize Him? Would I know that it was his voice that was calling me by name? And then it occurs to me that just as I am watching Rex when he can't see me, so is my Master watching me. So I wonder, is He pleased with what He sees? Does He watch me in the midst of my routine and smile as I do when I watch Rex? Do I give Him things to smile about or is He shaking His head in disappointment because I'm so wrapped up in my own agenda or so consumed with the dark that I fail to notice the Light that He's turned on to get my attention? Are there times when I am in such a deep slumber that He calls my name because He wants to greet me and talk to me, but I never even hear Him?

I so desperately want Him to smile as He watches me, and I want my ears to be ever so ready to hear Him call my name. I want to be watching and waiting for Him to step into my yard and not be caught slumbering when He calls me by name.

John 10: 3b-5 ". . .and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."