In October, a few weeks after Annie’s funeral, we took a trip. We borrowed a “Big Rig” and drove a big circle through the Eastern half of the U.S. Our kids still talk about the trip frequently and we are so thankful that many memories of that time in our lives were happy for the kids.
We had the most bizarre experience when we arrived home. Peter wrote about it soon after it happened, but I’ve been pondering it a bit.
Hank, you know Hank, spent the two weeks we were away at the kennel. In a road weary decision, we decided to pick him up in the Big Rig, so that we wouldn’t have to venture out again once we arrived home. He was so excited to see us . . . we were so excited to see him.
Imagine our surprise when we arrived home, walked into our screened-in porch and found a note that said, “I’m on a walk. Love, Hank”. We looked around to find a dog bed and other obvious signs that a dog had been spending time there.
And then, our neighbor Annette came into view, leading a dog, that looked just like Hank. It was kind of like when you think you see a movie star: “Is that Hank?” “I don’t know. It looks like him, but nah, I don’t think so.”
Somehow someone had told her that we needed someone to watch Hank for the second week of our vacation. Eager to help out, she had dutifully been feeding/walking/taking care of “Hank-but-not-Hank” for a full week. Apparently, this dog had run away and just happened to be wandering around the neighborhood at the time she was told her help was needed.
So we were standing in the middle of the yard with two dogs . . . Real Hank, obviously very upset with this other dog who had so wrongly taken up residence in his domain, and Hank-but-not-Hank who was as happy as a clam by the spoiling he had received.
We stood there discussing what we should do, all of us in hilarious shock, when Peter said, “Well, maybe we should look at his collar.” And there, clear as day, was his name and phone number of his owners.
You’ll never believe his name.
Hank.
Which explains why he was so obedient and came when called.
When his owner came to pick him up, clearly overjoyed, her words stung me a little. “Oh, we thought we’d lost him forever. My boys have been taking it so hard.”
And I couldn’t help but look at William and Kate swinging in the backyard and think, “But he’s just your dog. They’ve lost their sister.” Have you ever wanted to remind God of just how unfair He can be? But then you realize that without Him to cling to, you’d never be able to take another step?
I look back at that story and I think of John the Baptist. The one who prepared the way for Jesus.
Time after time John the Baptist is shown pointing others away from him and toward Christ. His whole life was dedicated to ushering in Jesus, the Messiah.
Yet, not long after Jesus began His ministry, John found himself in jail, sending his disciples to ask Jesus,
Because we all have in our head what we expect Jesus to be for us, don’t we? We find it easy to trust Him when things are going the way we’ve planned it out. We don’t mind doing hard work for His kingdom when we have a clear direction and purpose that allows our life to stay on its own happy course.
It’s like we know we’re walking Hank and feeding Hank and we’re happy to do it . . . and then we find out it’s not really Hank. And when we see the REAL Hank, we realize that the two dogs don’t really even look the same. All of a sudden, we see that we’ve been following our expectations more than we’ve been following Jesus.
And we find ourselves asking God if He’s really sure that He has the plan figured out. I mean, what’s fair about one little boy praying and finding his dog . . . and a brother and sister praying and losing their sweet baby?
Every day I’m learning more and more that God’s economy is not like the world’s economy. In the center of this upside down thinking is where we feel the most at peace.
I found this in Beth Moore’s book John that I read last summer (page 95).
The prayer for my life is that I would strive to follow the REAL Jesus and not my feeble expectations. Because the Hank-but-not-Hank was a nice enough dog, but a million times over, I’ll take the real Hank.
How I loved reading/hearing the Hank story again and to have added onto it your reflections re: John the Baptist…his story has gripped me in new ways since we first studied it. You have just given me another great view of it.
Love, Chris
I loved reading that story on Peter's blog–dog lovers that we are, we were happy that it was a win-win for all dogs involved.
But totally get how experience changes perspective–the return of a beloved dog to a little one who prayed so fervently is heartwarming…but makes one wonder "Why that? Why not desperate and fervent prayer? Why?"
Why is just incomprehensible. So I, like you, cling to Christ…knowing that He cannot lie and all things work for the good for those who love Him.
Not always easy when my heart hurts so much, but really the only thing, in the end, that makes sense.
Much love!
Love this post. That story about Hank was one of my favorites, and I've shared it many times. How typical of God to give you some humor and to lighten your return home. I'll never forget that. Thanks for the great follow-up story.
I loved reading and pondering this post. It put me on a good and open hearted place. You write so well. I'm so happy for your exciting news! So so happy. We are coming out for fair week this summer – for real this time- and I would love to see you and Jamie. You in? Maybe we could meet in te middle? I know it's a long trip down. Let me know!