Ginny and The Pup

My husband is an avid fisherman and we have a tiny cabin at a river camp about 4 hours away. Half the time it's too hot to be there, but when it's not we pack up the cooler and the tackle box and drive down as often as possible.

On one such trip hubby'd gone out for an early morning fish (o'dark thirty he calls it) - way too early for me. When I finally got up, I meandered down to the river with a cup of coffee to enjoy the morning sights and sounds.

It was there on the bank of the river that I encountered Ginny and the pup. Ginny was a magnificent black Labrador retriever. I noticed right away she had a huge chest, a shiny coat, and a muscular build. The little one was a cute, flopsy mopsy bit of a dog. And both of them were soaking wet.

As I was chatting with their owner an amazing thing happened. Without saying a word he raised a large stick up over his head. As he did, Ginny (who had been watching him intently) bolted for the water, jumped in, and began swimming against the current. The stick landed well ahead of her, but was rapidly being carried downriver in her direction. She had to swim to meet the stick, quickly and firmly latch onto it before it floated  past her, turn around, and return to shore. The owner recalled a time when she had missed the stick, and followed it so far downriver they thought surely she had drowned.

Ginny pulled herself out of the water and bounded back to her master, laying the stick at his feet. Then she shook off, water going everywhere, including all over a very excited Ms. Mopsy who was yipping and twirling all around Ginny.  (That's how Mopsy got wet.)

I've always thought this story was a good illustration of two types of Christians. The Champion, who lays hold of the promises of God and does not let go. Though adversity comes he is not deterred, and his spiritual muscles are built up because he believes the Word in spite of all opposition. Then there are those that hang out with the Champions, getting splashes of inspiration from time to time because of proximity, but never really doing the hard work themselves.

I'm determined to be a Champion Christian. And the only way for that to happen is to follow the Master's hand, run to the river, jump in the river, and pursue the promise with all my heart, no matter what the cost.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Heb. 6:12 

For more inspiration please visit my friends at Spiritual Sundays

Sunrise at the Colorado River