Lent Day 22 - Barking Dog

Although the Barking Dog is a great name for a doggie daycare center - a barking dog may very quickly become a nuisance.  I know - I had a dog who loved to bark. Bark to go outside - bark for food - bark to warn when somebody was on our property - bark when his canine cousins come to visit - and almost any other reason he could find to bark. I could have allowed myself to be angry at his barking - that is how dogs communicate. Sure they sit at your feet and beg with those big loving eyes - sometimes they cruise over to you and ask you to scratch their back side - and yes - rolling over on their back so you can scratch their tummy - yes that is all legitimate communication with you - their best friend. To many people - barking dogs are a pain - no time to accept them for who they are - what they are trying to communicate - only anger at a sound they cannot understand.

Sorry I Only Speak Dog R.I.P. 

To many people - when Christians talk about God - Jesus - Holy Spirit - Bible - Holy Scripture - accepted with as little understanding - respect - as for a barking dog. Confused by - Church Speak - Salvation - Confession - Forgiveness - New Life - Living Water - Heaven - Hell - nothing more than yapping puppies around the food bowel. For those of us - guilty of Church Speak - patience - demanded - if we are to share the Good News of Christ. Lent gives us that time - to hone our skills - to speak clearly about that which we have received - to speak in Love - with patience - that all who have ears might hear - the Good News.

Deacon Dale