Green Tags, Brown Dogs, and Freedom

The other day I got to enjoy this.

It is a joy for me to be able to walk in God’s beautiful and incredible creation with my dog.  It is not only the companionship, it is how she draws attention to things that my eyes would normally miss.  I experience the trail with my eyes, she through her nose. This is possible because one of the many benefits of living in Boulder is that there are innumerable trails where you can let your dog off the leash…so long as it has a ‘green tag’ from the county.   You can get the green tag if you promise the county that your dog responds to ‘voice and sight control’, and of course, an annual fee of $30.  Yes, there are some rules you have to follow.  Yes, there is a cost.  But if you and your dog are obedient, it’s a small price to pay for a much bigger freedom.   You both get to be off the leash to walk, run, sniff, and explore at your own pace.  

Kona

In my adult life, I’ve had the privilege of owning three different dogs.  All of them came into our family life as puppies, but each by a different route.  The first, “Squirt”, was the runt of a litter that had been abandoned in a grocery store parking lot on Christmas Eve.  The second, “Kona”, was rescued from neglect by a close friend and given to us.  The current one, “Numa”, we saw on-line at the Boulder Animal Shelter and adopted first thing the next morning.   There are two things they all share:  Fur that is deep brown in color and obedience to my voice commands.  The first was a happy accident.  The second was a seriously intentional effort. 

From the moment these puppies entered our house and our life, they were all bundles of happily wagging tails, eager curiosity, and non-stop exploration.  They also chewed a lot of things we wish they hadn’t, and went potty in places they shouldn’t.  But they melted our hearts at first sight,

Who could possibly resist this?

and we loved them immensely.  I mean, who doesn’t love puppies? But we also wanted them to learn obedience, because we knew that obedience is not a happy accident in dogs, unlike brown fur.  To be clear, our love and devotion was there from the outset, unconditional on whether or not they would learn the rules and listen to our commands.  But an obedient dog is a dog you can trust to let off the leash.

Having three dogs has also taught me that instilling obedience requires an investment of a lot of intentional time and effort.  It is a span that is not measured in weeks or number of training classes, but in years. Human rules and regulations do not become second nature to a dog overnight.  It requires a commitment that is infused with love, patience, and fortitude.  The pay off for the dedication is freedom.

All of this came flooding to the forefront of my mind as Numa and I walked the Marshall Mesa trail the other day.  Freedom for her comes with a price and with obedience.  I pay the price.  She pays with obedience. As a result, my brown dog wears a green tag that marks her as free to romp off the leash.   I was reminded that I too enjoy freedom, and that freedom came at a price. I didn’t pay it because there is no way in the world that I could. The price was far too high.  But using that freedom to its fullest requires that I, too, learn the value of obedience.  It demands that I am intentional to its cause and devoted to the effort.  Not that I’ve "arrived" in my training, because I know it’s a continuous, ongoing process. But I’m always striving to reach the goal, which is listening for God’s voice and behaving obedient in his sight. 

And who knows...when I do reach the goal...maybe then I’ll receive the equivalent of a green tag. Maybe then he’ll lean down and gently unhook the leash, and then together we’ll romp down the trail of life as I walk, run, see, explore and engage in his Kingdom. 

Or...perhaps he already has and I just don't realize it. 

Whichever way it is, I'm enjoying it.

Keep the faith,