For the Love of Dog – A Relationship of Trust Pt. 3 – Steve Orr

The Boy Who Became a Man;

I’m a man now — with a wife, kids, a job, a mortgage, and a quiet life in a quiet town. But I still hear Luke’s howl sometimes — in the wind, in the silence, in the space between heartbeats.

And I still ask myself: What is my Wilderness?

Is it the job I hate? The relationship I’m afraid to fix? The fear I can’t name? The doubt I can’t shake?

And who is my Master?

Is He the God I pray to when I’m scared? Or the God I trust when I’m not?

Luke didn’t understand why he had to wear the collar. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t dig in the garden. He didn’t understand why he had to come back from the Wilderness.

But he trusted me.

And in the end — when it mattered most — he gave his life for me.

That’s what love looks like.

That’s what Jesus did.

It’s sacrificial love, where we die to self and give what we have to those in need.

And that’s what I’m learning to do — to trust, even when I don’t understand. To obey, even when I don’t see the whole picture. To love, even when it costs everything.

Because love isn’t about understanding.

It’s about trusting.

Even when you don’t know why.

Even when you don’t see the whole picture.

Even when the cost is everything.

Even during the hardest of times. In suffering.

“Count it all joy when you fall into trials and traps. Rejoice as you follow in Jesus’ footsteps of suffering for yourself and for others.” (James 1:2 and 1 Peter 4:13 paraphrased)

What?! You can’t be serious!!

Oh, yes, you can.

When suffering becomes part of your journey

Entering into an authentic relationship with our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the wildest wilderness adventure you can possibly have.

Trusting in God and stepping out on faith is how we step into eternity.

Like the Loving Father looking out from the porch and running to welcome the Prodigal son, he’s waiting for you, he’s waiting for me, he’s waiting for us all. Come and enjoy the party at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Steve Orr writes to us from Montana. After working in the mecca of technology, Steve traded the rat race of Silicon Valley for the adventures of High Tech in Big Sky Country. Steve has an MBA with experience in accounting, finance, technology, and management. He occasionally writes a little software code, but mostly he likes writing about Matters of the Heart.