Going Home

I have been asked to be a speaker at the Lake Shore Non Denominational Women’s Conference in October. It will be held in my home town, a place that I have not lived in since I was eighteen when I went away to college. When I left, I had just received the ignominious title of “Class Flirt” from my senior class mates. Now I will return …as a Bible teacher.

It is ironic for sure. But more than that, it is a remarkable statement of the power of God to transform lives. And so I will go. I am looking forward to having the time to simply drive up and down the streets of the town. It is a small town of only 9000 people but it sits on the shores of Lake Michigan and thus is a favorite resort area in the summer. Beautiful lakes, miles of sandy beaches and sand dunes, and lovely parks make it a perfect vacation spot. But for me it is simply “home”. Every block holds a memory and almost all of them are good ones. I can easily be transported back in time to the neighborhood friends that made every day an adventure. High School expanded those borders with a few hundred more friends added to the list. Summers were spent on the beach which had a huge break-wall where we would practice diving from about ten feet in the air. There was freedom. I would ride my bike out of our driveway in the morning and would return before dinner. The entire town was my playground and my bike was the best transportation in a town that has no hills.

The theme of the conference comes from John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” This is the perfect verse for me to speak on, for though this beautiful town holds so many wonderful memories for me, it also was the birthplace of fear. Childish pranks left an indelible wound in my soul. Fear followed me to college where a traumatic experience deepened the wound so much that I was hardly able to function. It pervaded my whole being and of course I took that into marriage and motherhood. Nothing healed the wound and courage was illusive until I was thirty two years old. The healer? Jesus Christ.

So I will return to the “birthplace” of fear. And I will return with a message. Jesus was not kidding when He said “I will give you peace”. As with everything Jesus said, it is the truth. He has proven it over and over again to me.

Now the challenge stands before me. Can I articulate the power of Christ in such a way that those in the audience can understand the gospel and embrace it with all that they have? I am not sure. But I do know Christ has promised the “Comforter” can and will speak through me. My job is to go. His job is to change lives. I will be in good company.

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.”

The Pinch Collar

It was the collar that made the difference. We had chosen Betsy because we thought Jim was lonesome. He looked lonesome. He didn’t play much nor was he interested in things like balls and sticks. That was unnatural for a dog and thus we began to think about a young lady dog to spice up his life.

I found the perfect dog on the 4th of July when I went into Petco to buy some dog food. The Humane Society was there and so was Betsy in a cage looking for someone to take her home. She was beautiful, the same color as Jim and gentle spirited. So the money was paid, a collar and leash were bought and Betsy came home with us.

Jim’s life picked up more than we could imagine. Betsy chewed on his ears and tormented him at every chance. He wanted to nap, Betsy wanted to play. He wanted to eat lunch. Betsy wanted to play. He wanted to get away from her but Betsy would track him down and mercilessly jump on him until he would play.

But Betsy had a few other habits that were not endearing. She loved pillows. And so she systematically tore up about eight of our decorative pillows. Once those were out of the way she attacked three couch cushions and tore them to shreds. She chewed all of the chair cushions from the furniture on the porch. She chewed the wires from the CD player and two porch lamps. She dug holes in the yard. She got to the Amazon delivery before I did and shredded the package (three books to be exact) to smithereens. The day came when we were at our wits end and forked over a very large sum of money and hired a dog whisperer.

He came with a collar that looked like some torture instrument. It was metal, and had sharp prongs jutting out every inch or so. Betsy saw what was coming and tried to back away from it but the DW was quicker and so the collar went on Betsy. “It won’t hurt her unless she pulls away from me” he said with confidence. And so the training began. One hour later, Betsy the Brat was obedient, quick to obey and calm. A transformation had taken place.

He left with some good advice.

1. Keep her by your side as much as you can during the day so she doesn’t get bored, distracted or lonely. She will sense your presence and rest.

2. Set up opportunities for her to disobey but have a catch…like an Amazon box soaked in hot sauce not to injure her but to teach her.

3. Praise her greatly when she does what is right.

4. Show your love through affection.

That was a year ago. Our house is once again calm. Jim is sleeping under the table as I write and Betsy is curled up in her favorite chair napping. New cushions are on the porch furniture and the decorative pillows in the living room have been replaced. Amazon delivers without fear and our walks in the morning are totally delightful with both dogs by my side. Jim seems to have good feeling towards Betsy and sometimes they will lie on the floor side by side with Jim affectionately licking her ears. Yes things are different around here now thanks to a pinch collar.

God has his own pinch collar I am convinced. Oh we can’t see it but for sure all of us at one time or another have felt it. Sometimes it comes in circumstances that are excruciatingly painful. Sometimes it comes through the stirring of the conscience or the rebuke of a friend. Sometimes it comes through illness, or disappointments. But it will involve some pain. And behind the pinch is a God who is working to make us better, to develop our character or make us more sensitive to others, or change the path we are on.

I have seen what the effects a pinch collar in the hands of an expert can do and it is good. And yet my Father’s hand is always for our best. And in the end the advice is much the same:

1. Stay near to the Father so you will sense His presence and rest.

2. He sets up opportunities for us to learn and grow, not to destroy and injure.

3. And when we do right, we do feel the good pleasure of God Himself.

4. And lastly, throughout His word He assures us of His love for us and His great affection for His children.

Betsy doesn’t know it but that pinch collar was necessary because we loved her and wanted her to learn to live a civilized life. Our Lord has said He would lead also with bonds of love so we might learn to live well. Betsy’s “bonds” have led to a quiet home but even more so God’s lead to a quiet and satisfied heart. And that is better still.

Hosea 11: 3

I took them in My arms; …

I led them with bonds of love…

And I bent down and fed them.