There is this story of a dog who loved his owner more than anything. Every day the dog's owner would leave for work and return home after dark. Without fail, the owner would leave by saying "Take care of the house Spot and when I come back I will bring you a treat." Spot did his part, the owner never, not once, did his. Despite this, Spot's love for his owner never ceased. Spot loved him unconditionally. He loved him in spite of all this. Each day Spot heard the same words, if you do this, I will do that. This went on for many years. There was never a day Spot was not there waiting for his owner, patient, eager, and accepting. Day after day. Evening after evening as darkness settled in.
One day as usual the owner said goodbye with the words, "Take care of the house old Spot and when I return I will bring you a treat." Some time past dark the owner returned. And when he called out to Spot, he did not come. Surprised the owner called out to Spot again, then again, then several more times. "Spot old man," he asked, "Where are you?" No answer. There was complete silence. An then in this instance the owner felt all alone. He searched everywhere for Spot. And Spot was nowhere to be found. How can this be the owner asked himself? Spot knows me. He knows when I return home. My behavior has been the same all his life. I am predictable. We have an understanding Spot and me. The owner became fearful. Where was his loyal companion?
After some time and much searching, the owner decided to turn in. Beside his bed he placed a dog bone he had brought home for Spot. The next morning he awakened with such dread in his heart. He carried a heaviness he had never felt before. As he rose he saw a figure at the bottom of his bed lying down. It was his beloved Spot. As he approached, Spot did not move. He got close and reached out to his dog petting his head with excitement. He ran to his bedside and said, "Look Spot, see what I brought you!" Spot did not respond. Spot had stopped seeing a long time ago. He was now completely blind. It came slowly at first then progressed then total darkness. There was no more light. The owner never saw it coming.
As he sat on the floor with Spot's head in his lap he stared down at the treat he had brought him. Spot never got to see anything again. Spot would have to rely on words now like never before. Somehow he hoped his owner could see that.
This story reminds me of our relationship in God's eyes. Those times we say Lord please do this for me and I will do that for you. We make this promise over and over and over. And despite our empty promises God through his grace for our lives keeps giving, always there for us loving, protecting, providing. We continue receiving his goodness with open arms and expectancy, without a conscious thought of where God's goodness comes from. We slowly seep into blind spots, selfish and undeserving.
Then one day when we wake up to our selfishness and become truly conscious of who loves us and is ever-present, we throw God a bone. A token of our being present and aware. By then it is too late, we become too old in our ways to truly receive the gifts God was providing all along. Even in this time God does not leave us though in our heart we feel blind to the light he was offering throughout our lives with or without that bone.
It does not have to be this way. We only need to embrace our relationship with God from a place of authenticity and pure love. This is God's wish for our lives. And even if we never give this love to him, God will never tire of giving his untethered love to us. Though we may never see him. Yet he is there waiting to be seen.
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