A long sit-stay

I was again walking exultantly across the expansive field ringed by rows of blue mountains when i saw the dog. She was a black lab and her owner knelt at her side, ruffled her fur, and told her to sit.
Then he stood up, told the retriever,"Stay!", and began walking purposefully away.

The dog watched his master stride up the hill. I glanced back, sure the owner would now turn and call the good dog. But he didn't. He kept walking further and further and disappeared down a little valley. Every muscle of the dog now quivered, but she did not break the stay. I stopped and turned to watch. The owner was out of sight yet the dog still sat. Her ears were perked forward. Her eyes were focused on the hill the master had dipped behind and still the dog did not break the sit.

By now I felt weepy at the expectant trust of that good, obedient dog. I kept watch with her and finally we saw the owner reappear on a distant ridge. The dog trembled and leaned forward but her haunches remained planted. And still he didn't call her. He stopped and turned.
"Please Call her now!" I breathed, but he just stood, looking at her.

Finally, interminable minutes later, he shouted, "Go!"
The dog leapt forward and sprinted towards him, her tail streaming like a celebration. When she reached him, she wagged her whole body and he kneeled on the ground, burying his face in her fur.

I remembered the story of Moses, who told his people he was going to the top of Mount Sinai to meet with and worship God. He told them to wait for his return and then headed up the mountain to collect the 10 Commandments. After 40 days, the people gave up. They decided he wasn't coming back and made an idol, a golden calf to worship instead of God who delayed so long. Of course it was as they were bowing down to this false god that Moses returned, with the tablets of the Ten Commandments in hand. Talk about egg on your face!

Sometimes we are commanded to do a long sit-stay. It is not easy to trust the Master when He has walked far away, we can no longer see Him, and we don't know when He is coming back.....or even if He is coming back. Every muscle trembles and we don't know how we can continue to trust, to obey, when our hopes are melting without His presence. Has He forgotten us? Have we been cast off forever? Why, if He loves us does He tarry?

And then, if we are listening, ears perked in His direction, we hear Him call. And if we have waited obediently, hopefully, expectantly, He will hold out His arms when He gathers us to Him, saying, "Good and faithful servant- well done!"

Asherel 's last run of the day yesterday was in the presence of her beloved brother. Matt had never seen Asherel run agility and she was so anxious to do well before him. She had not done exceptionally well thus far this weekend, and was sick with a sore throat and cold to boot. Knowing God was busy with many more important things, i tried not to pray too often that Asherel would be granted a good run in front of Matt. Polly, our mentor had warned her not to run to impress anyone, but to run the course for the joy of it. But thus far, Honey was distracted and Asherel was too hoarse to recall her well. Then Matt arrived with dear fiance Karissa and her brother, John. They settled in to watch just as Asherel's class began. I held my breath, and prayed.

And Honeybun, dear Honeybun ran the course with no faults. Asherel qualified, thus securing a fourth place ribbon in a very large class, and completed the points for her Novice Standard agility title with the little dog we had found half dead on a roadside two years ago.

Sometimes it is a long sit-stay, but it is always worth it feeling the Master's pleasure if we just don't lose hope.

Psalm 130:5 NIV

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

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