I saw somebody walking the dog last Saturday morning and the dog was tugging on the leash pulling them down the road.  At first, I couldn’t tell if they were walking the dog or if the dog was walking them.  That dog was straining and pulling on that leash like he was trying to pull a busload of people.  Every so often, the dog’s master would calmly tug on the leash a few times and command him to sit.  I think the master was trying to get the dog to be still, regain his focus and remember that the Master was in charge of the walk.  The master is the one to set the pace, choose the direction and lead the walk.  After a brief rest, the two would begin to walk again.  For a short while it would go well, but then the dog would become distracted by a bird, a cat or an Amazon truck.  The dog would start straining, pulling and tugging on the leash again until his patient Master could get him to sit, be still and regain his focus and remember that the Master was in charge of the walk.  This happened several times before they went the length of the block.

As I watched this unfold, I reflected on the patience the Lord has shown with me on my spiritual walk.  Too often, I get distracted, lose focus and start to tug and pull on the leash.  Instead of staying close to the Master’s side and letting Him guide me, I strain to set the pace, the direction and the duration of the walk.  More often than I care to admit, my patient Master has to remind me to be still, regain my focus and remember that He is in charge of the walk.  And I have found that when I remember those things, when I walk with Him instead of in front of Him, the walk is much more pleasant.