Running with Joy

Now that my fingers have thawed out and my tongue is no longer frozen to my soft palate, I will tell you that being the ring crew for an agility trial outdoors in 19 degree cold is not as much fun as you might think.  I had on 3 layers of wool, and my full length down parka with the fake fur around the hood all tightly strapped around my face. I looked like Nanook of the North. I was still cold.

But this morning, I awoke to snow and more snow is forecast all day!! We will certainly have enough to cross country ski on as long as the snowplows don't decide to ruin my fun and plow our streets. And despite freezing for half a day yesterday putting poles up so that dogs could knock them back down, I am thrilled to anticipate my day on the snow today in similar cold. We have gas for the generator so even if we lose power, we are fine. The generator is small but it powers the essentials- the coffee maker, and the computer.

Honeybun is curled in a little tight ball of fur next to me. She was not at her best yesterday in the frigid day test trial (called show and go). Asherel was cold and tired even before we got there, and so Honeybun picked up on Asherel's less than excited attitude and she was distracted on the course. It struck me how critical it is for teams to work together, to be in synch emotionally, with focus on the same goal. If one is not at her best, it is likely the other will be dragged down as well. I think one of the hardest aspects of running agility courses for Asherel is losing her self consciousness and generating excitement that will feed off of Honeybun's natural desire to please. It is hard for Asherel to think like and act like a dog in front of spectators, but if she can't be "one" with Honeybun, they are never quite a team. Honeybun tries as hard as she can to understand English, to read Asherel's mind, and to do what this baffling but beloved human is asking of her. She checks back with Asherel constantly while on the course, unless of course her nose chances upon a piece of dropped food from the last contestant, which happened far too often yesterday and is why food is banned from actual competition rings. Then she might spend 10 minutes in the tunnel on the course sniffing out the trail of sirloin, like she did yesterday.

But the best agility dog/handler teams are those that can read each others' cues and movements and purpose so exquisitely that they move like one. And the hallmark of both, besides grace and apparent ease is JOY. If the team is working the way it should, joy accompanies it throughout.

I have found that to be true in almost any endeavor. When I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, and my heart and mind and focus is all riveted on the proper goal, it is joyful. And when someone is with me working towards that same goal, and we are of one mind and spirit in our pursuit of excellence, it is unspeakable joy. I am quite sure that is why the Bible mentions "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I will be." (Matthew 18:20)  God wouldn't mention this if it were easy, or came naturally. So it must be difficult for 2 or 3 to gather in like purpose with like focus not only in the name of God, but in the name of anything.

We had a guest pastor this week who alluded to the purpose of congregating in prayer. He said so often our prayers are self-focused and our motivation really needs to be other-focused.
"Goodness," he bellowed, "Here in the dry south we are praying for rain so our grass will grow!! We don't need God to help the grass grow! What about the people around the world who don't have enough to eat, or who are being tortured for their faith.... that's what we need to be praying about!"

Now I would disagree in part- we DO need God for our grass to grow....but I get his point. Our focus needs to be unified, and it needs to be on a goal worthy of our time and effort.  And like Honeybun, who is constantly seeking her Master's desires, we should likewise be asking for His direction.

Polly, our beloved mentor in all things agility, wrote to me after the trial and told me to remind Asherel to keep it fun for both her and Honeybun.
"Dear Honeybun would die for Asherel if she thought that is what she wanted," our mentor Polly said.
Jesus did die for us so that the penalty due us was paid in full by Him. We would never have to run the race alone, but always accompanied by God. And with Him beside us, we should be running with joy, unspeakable joy.

Matthew 18: 19-20
 ¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”