Pound Puppy

For the past week or so I've been staying at my friends' house watching their wayward dog. She's a mess. She eats everything in her path if you leave her alone. She gets hyper and wants to play with her wet toys as the worst times (while I write this insightful blog? no - now she's asleep) and she cries, growls, and sometimes pounces at the bugs that at time only she can see. Another friend warned about the time she got into her cooking chocolate stash. Another set of friends won't allow her in their garden...

But, she's the most affectionate creature I've ever been around. She snuggles at my side whenever I sit down and even sleeps on the bathroom carpet while I shower to be near me. When I tried to take her on an U-bahn escalator she gladly compromised by wrapping herself around me when I picked her up. After watching her, I think this dog just needs another dog in her life to not be so neurotic. But, that's not what is going to happen in this home. This family is wonderful but they have decided they are not a good match for her and they are tired of having their things eaten. My friend told me that when they return they're going to find a new home for her.

So I'm sitting her tonight with a beagle attached to my side, knowing her future is uncertain.

And, I'm the just same.

Sure, I have skills this dog doesn't have. I have parents and friends who support me no matter what I decide to do. I know the God who leads both our paths. I'm not doubting all that. I'm simply thinking that I can't stay here in Vienna. And I don't know where my next home is. I have six months left. I have made dear friends and have hopes for God to really move in the lives of people I know. But I can't stay. And, I know from my life and my skills I will probably always keep me moving on. Most of the time I love that. It's just times like this, while I'm looking down at her as this dog growls in her sleep, when I realize I can't even adopt her because my life is as wobbly as hers. I feel homeless and I miss "home". Whatever that is. Maybe it's just because I've been sick for the past week and traveled a bunch before that. That's probably why I feel this way. When I'm more connected with friends and out in the city things will feel better.

I'll reconnect.

That's all the home I've ever really needed this side of Heaven. Just to know that there are people out there who care for me deeply, who embrace me with their hearts and pray for me. My brothers and sisters, the love of Christ in you is my home. I guess that's true for all of us.

Living on the outskirts of the circles of faith has shown me a lot about the time and resources that the Bride of Christ spends on her love of religion and tradition for its own sake. But more, I've learned the importance of having people to remind each other of the unfathomable Truth: that we don't belong here, that God - Jesus has conquered death and the grave and is preparing our true home. There is something so essential in the gathering of believers. Yes, to teach newbies, but also just to remember. Remember. We're doing this for a reason. Our God lives and He loved us perfectly enough to be the way for us to connect with Him. So now we have, "Christ in your, the Hope of Glory."

Six months is a long time in dog years.
May I finish this well.