Welcoming Back

We have been so consumed with preparing for the upcoming end of year exams, that I didn't want to throw in any fun extras to our day. We already have too much to do in not enough time. However, in the end, I decided a horse's fuzzy face can sometimes work miracles and Asherel's riding teacher was gracious enough to let us crash a last minute lesson. It was a hot day. Asherel hopped on one of her favorite horses bareback and the group trotted off to a shady trail in the trees. I knew Asherel's weary brain would be tossed back to calmness on that welcoming wide back.

Meanwhile, I wandered off for a walk. Near the farm is a very upscale gated community. It was started before the economic crash, and only about ten houses went up in a plot designed for 100 or so. So the wide streets are largely empty. I was busily berating myself in my head on all the things I have done poorly as a teacher this year when I heard a man shouting, "No! Boomer, come! Come!"
A huge retriever came barreling towards me. I could sense he was friendly, but I also knew he did not realize he outweighed me, and he was filled with youthful exuberance.

"Down Boomer!" I shouted, to no avail. Boomer wanted to play. He jumped up on me and grabbed at my arm. Then he raced around me and jumped again from another angle. The good news is it took my mind off my depressing thoughts of my well deserved worst teacher of the year award. The bad news is that Boomer was becoming increasingly excited and the owner was a distant several empty lots away. I found a stick and tossed it. Boomer, like all retrievers, raced after the stick. I made my getaway while Boomer was chasing down the stick, which was fortunately tossed in the direction of his master.

I am working through the book of Isaiah currently. I love Isaiah because it is such an honest book. Isaiah doesn't sugar coat the anger and wrath and disappointment of God in His disobedient creatures. He says, "Come!", just like Boomer's master, and instead, we run off to play, with no understanding of how our lack of discipline will hurt us in the end. But what makes me love Isaiah most is the beautiful picture of hope and redemption he paints of a loving master who welcomes us back to Him no matter how far we have strayed.

I wiped the dog spit off my arm. I heard the owner say, "That's a good boy, Boomer!" as the dog bounded back into his yard.

Isaiah 60:15-20 (NIV)
“Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. [16] You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. [17] Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. [18] No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. [19] The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. [20] Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.


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