What happens when we stray too far from our Master?

Well, I found out when I took our 5 month old pup for a new adventure.

We had been on some leashed walks, but she had never been free to run on her own while I walked with her. She is a hunting dog, and although this trip involved no birds or gun, my level of excitement was high as I anticipated seeing what her natural tendencies were.

I expected her to stay close at first, and then get braver as she followed her nose and felt more confident with her new surroundings. This proved to be true as she hunted her way along the field of cut grass, filling her nose with all sorts of new smells, and enjoying her newfound freedom from fences, leashes, and the distraction of other dogs.

Frequently she would check in to see where I was, then scurry to catch up, only to pass me and scout out the land ahead. I was pleased that she kept track of me, but I was also looking for an opportunity to hide from her so she would have to find me. You see, over time, I want to enforce that she is to watch me as I watch her. I have to trust her instincts, but she has to trust my way.

After about 45 minutes, a great opportunity presented itself as a fresh gopher hole distracted her long enough for me to get about 150 yards ahead of her. Using the rolling terrain, I squatted down low enough so she couldn't see me, but I could see her. She played for a few minutes, and then started looking around for where I went. She barked a few times, would run a little ways, stop, and bark again.

I could tell she was scared, and as much as I wanted to save her, I waited just a little bit longer to prove my point. I knew where she was the whole time, and after a few minutes I stood up so she could see me. I didn’t say a word and waited until she saw me. When she did, as I expected, she came running full speed toward me.

As she drew near, I knelt back down on one knee to embrace her as I usually do at home, but what happened next really shocked me.

Instead of running faster to jump in my arms, she came to a screeching halt and started barking at me. She turned tail and ran. She stopped, turned, and barked some more. She ran further, stopped one last time to bark at me, and continued to run all the way back to the pickup which she hid underneath. She kept barking until I was within arms reach, then came out from under the pickup and started wagging her tail.

Could the fear caused by being separated from her master for a few minutes actually cause her to doubt who I was; to totally forget what I looked like?

I had the same clothes, the same rope in my hands, the same sun glasses, and walked with the same gait.

Fear makes us do strange things.

The disciples found themselves in a similar situation when they were on a boat in the middle of the sea, straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Jesus, who was walking on the water, catches up to them, and when they saw him they were afraid. They thought he was a ghost.

Jesus assures the disciples that it is indeed him, their Messiah. But Peter, still unsure, says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

Have you ever wondered why Peter asked that question? I have. I’m guessing Peter had never encountered a ghost on the sea before, and maybe telling Jesus to prove himself wasn’t an intuitive response, but possibly a fear response that he couldn’t retract once it left his mouth.

Jesus obliges Peter’s request, and voila! Peter walks on the water. Kudos to Peter for being the only one brave enough to step out of the boat, even though he began to sink once he took his eyes off the Master. Once Jesus comes within arms length of Peter, he raises him back up, they get back into the boat, the wind and the waves calm and they worship Jesus as the true son of God.

Once again, fear makes us do strange things.

In both cases, taking your eyes off the master, even for a little while can instill fear that makes you do something you normally wouldn't. I get it, seeing anything walk on the water is a legitimate reason to be a little fearful, but in both stories, what brings assurance is when the master is within arms reach.

I once had a dream that I was shooting arrows and having a hard time hitting the target. One of my favorite pastors was in the dream, and as he took the bow from my hands, he showed me how to hit the bullseye every time.

With an arrow knocked and at full draw, he walked slowly until he was at point blank range, and sunk the arrow into the bullseye with every shot.

The key to hitting the bullseye in your relationship with Jesus is to get closer. Draw near to him, and always be within arms reach. If you get too far away, and can’t find him, you may not recognize him. It's even possible that fear may take over and cause you to do strange things.


Blessings,

Dean