WINDOW SILL

That’s the window sill in my living room.  Looking from the inside out.  It looks out on our front yard and the road to our house.  It’s the place we all look if we hear something out front.   I know what you’re saying – that looks a little rough.  I know.  It is in disrepair and desperately in need of a sand down and a whitewashing.  How did it get that way you ask?  Shenandoah.

You may have heard about Shenandoah.  Remember, the worst-best dog we’ve ever had?  I could go on and on about the many characteristics (faces) of Shenandoah.  Some misbehaviors – worst – jumping into the window when a car goes by, when a cat goes by, when a deer goes by, when a chicken goes by.  Mostly very admirable qualities – best – she’s a Lab so she’s cute, she’s loyal, she’s high energy, she’s territorial, she’s fiercely protective.  She loves walks, dog food, watermelon, carrots and lettuce.  In her free time she enjoys laying on her bed and chasing chickens and rabbits.  Sounds like a bio for a pageant, doesn’t it?  She’d win – she’s the total package.

Anyway, I was walking through the living room the other day and like most days when I walk through the living room there are two thoughts that come to my mind.  First, I need to clean the dog slobbers off those front windows and two, I need to paint that window sill, it looks terrible.  You see, that durn window is right at eye level for Shenandoah.  Consequently, when a car, cat, deer, chicken, person, ant, lighting bug, fly, anything, goes by that window outside and she happens to be looking, she attacks the window.  Her front paws leap (no kidding) into the window sill, she slobbers on the window, and she barks incessantly and ferociously.   The HVAC maintenance guy told us one time that no one would ever get in our house with her there.  Frankly, her behavior is ridiculous and that’s what we say to her as we “discipline” her and lead her to her crate for the millionth time.  Although I appreciate her protectiveness she’s a reactor.  Her reactions to things going by out front are completely inappropriate and damaging.  Her paw-jerk reaction is just that – something she has not clearly thought through or she would see the consequence of her actions.  The consequence is that she’s punished in some way for the collateral damage she has caused to my window sill.

If I’m honest with myself, I’m not much different than Shenandoah.  It’s a good thing God doesn’t put me in a crate.  I do the same thing.  I paw-jerk – leap, bark, attack, slobber and act ferociously at times too – I sometimes, more than I care to admit, react without thinking.  I’m wrong.  I’m clearly not listening to what the teachers tell us.

James tells us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to get angry.”  He tells us to act, not react.  We are first to listen – Breathe.  Slow to speak – Pray.  Slow to get angry – think before spouting off.

Paul instructs us too:

…lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Be humble and gentle.

Be patient with each other,

making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Ephesians 4:2

We were chosen by God to reflect Jesus – to act like Jesus.  Searching the Word for the characteristics of Christ to be lived out in our lives is the place to start.  We cannot reflect what we don’t know.   If we don’t know the ways of Jesus we can’t act like Jesus.  If we don’t act – breathe, pray, think, we react – pounce, bark, slobber.  The Word tells us how to act so we don’t have to act like reactors.

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves,

you must clothe yourselves with

tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

You must make allowances for each other’s faults

and forgive the person who offends you.

Colossians 3:13

Sure, we’re going to get it wrong sometimes – we’re going to get led to the crate.  However, a life worthy of our calling is not a life of reaction but a life of action.  Breathe.  Pray.  Think.  Act.