Here We Grow Again!

The hills are alive…with sound of barking. Not exactly a song sung in a famous movie from a hilltop in Austria, but true nonetheless. The first cool fall mornings have graced us with an opportunity to open the windows and, as my son-in-love, Michael, would say, "Blow the stink out."

While the cool breeze is a treasured delight, the village dogs are all atwitter and are communicating with one another via the 'bark-line'. My dogs get a on my nerves when I am trying to write and they go bonkers over a wild rabbit or feral cat but, I must say, this morning they have been the least of the barking in this early morning serenade. Were it not for said cool breeze, I would shut the windows as tightly as possible in effort to drown out much of the barking noise.

They are dogs doing what dogs do. Nina, the puppy, is busy being a puppy. No one has to tell her how to be a puppy; she has it down pat. She dashes from room to room at the speed of light and she naps often – just not when you want her to. She investigates everything that moves and most that doesn't, tasting as she goes. She drags her toys around, even though some weigh more than she does. She torments her siblings, when they are inside, much to her delight and their dismay, and in spite of the numerous trips outside in our potty training, she will have an 'accident' on purpose when you are least able to jump up and catch her. Of course, there is that unconditional love in her eyes when she's snuggled down in your lap. Yep, Nina is quite good at being a puppy.

I wonder if people can look at us and know we are a Christian just by the things we do. Can they tell by the way we talk that we spend time in prayer? Does the look on our faces reflect the love of Christ or the frustration of traffic? Do we 'bark' at people? Is joy in the Lord evident as we go about our business? Do our words carry a message of Jesus regardless of the topic on which we speak? Do others hear compassion in our conversations or does busy-ness talk louder? Are we Christians doing what Christians do without having to think about it or do we have to make an effort to show Christian attitudes? Do we, like Nina does as a puppy, function as a Christian is to function because we have been changed, born again, in the image of Jesus or is it really difficult to maintain the 'image' we think we are to present? Can people tell we are Christians by our daily walk; or do we have to tell them? And, if we have to tell them, ARE we being the kind of Christian we strive to be?

It is a dog's nature to be a dog. Man has dressed them up as little people and created psychotic animals out of them. However, when left to their true nature, a dog is a dog, pedigree, or mutt. A dog is a dog. A man or woman left to their true nature will reflect all that is driven by the flesh and the world. A Christian isn't like the dressed up dog, it is not an outward appearance that makes the difference. The inner changes of our soul (mind, emotions, and will) reflect the new creature we become in Christ when truly transformed and living in and by the Spirit. We cannot merely call ourselves a Christian and really be one no more than calling ourselves a dog and barking makes us a real dog. A true committed Christian acts like one without even having to think about it because it IS what and who they have become in Christ. A puppy grows and learns to be a dog. A baby Christian grows in Christ and learns, maturing into a true Christian that walks and talks like a mature Christian because it is now their nature. Here we grow again!