Sleeping in the Rain

"Surely he is not sleeping in the rain. He must be dead," I thought as I glanced out at Lucky on the spattered wet deck. He did not appear to be breathing and he was stretched out while the rain soaked into his fur. His bedraggled ears were flattened against his soaking face.

"He was alive just yesterday.....how could he be dead?"
so I called his name.
One ear went straight up, but otherwise he remained comatose, eyes still closed.

It is not like he had to sleep in the rain. He has 2 beds inside, 2 allowed couches, several unallowed chairs and couches, and a dog door that he can use at any time to access this assortment of dry and comfy cushions. So why does he choose to lie on the hard, wet deck and be drenched by the rain? Honeybun sat at the door (inside, warm and dry) watching him with me. There is little doubt she was thinking to herself, "I have a moron for a stablemate."

It was not a soft gentle drizzle. It was a pelting rain. Yet there he lay, eyes tightly closed, rivers of rain streaming over and around him. Why would a creature with access to all the blessings of comfort, contentment, joy, food, water and companionship choose instead to lie in the wet, cold, hard rain?

"You do have a choice, here," I said, as Honeybun glanced at Lucky and at me with her dark unblinking eyes,
"You don't have to be miserable." Lucky opened one eye.
"Do you want to come in?" I asked him. He hopped up with alacrity, shedding both gallons of water and any doubts that perhaps he was sick, and bounded inside.

I laughed and recognized that there are many times when I too stand "outside", weathering misery and despair because I am too proud or weary or guilty to enter a place of refuge. Yet time and time again, God stands near watching me, shaking His head and calling me, "Come in, you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28-29

²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.