--This is our dear OLD friend "Copper", who has brought many smiles to many faces.
THE GOLDEN (RETRIEVER) RULES
THE RULES
We’ve sold Golden Retriever puppies for almost a decade and I’ve never had even one customer fail to express their delight with a pleased smile, a soft awhhh, or occasionally, a squeal—everyone, including the tail-wagging puppy, is delighted.
These happy endings begin with an ad and a phone call. There are the typical questions: “How old are they? How many do you have? Are there any females left? Are they friendly? Etc.” After a brief interrogation callers give control of the conversation over to me as I tell them of the child-friendly temperament of our beloved pets, and their ease of training and faithful nature. When and if all their ‘facts’ questions are satisfied they’ll follow with the I’m-sold-now question, “How do I get out to see them?”
If they are using a GPS they only ask for my address. Otherwise, I have the directions down to the tenth of a mile per turn and can get them here easily and quickly. We then set a time and I make sure I’m available. Only once has a customer arrived and decided not to take a puppy home. In that case, the lady wanted a Golden; the husband/boyfriend wanted a Boxer. She was sold, but he was boss…..so, they went to ‘look’ at the boxer pups.
I encourage them to take time before deciding on ‘the one’ for them. It is a difficult choice with 8-10 golden fuzz-balls each showing and begging for attention. It is such a wonderful moment to be so loved by so many. The decision can be overwhelming. On more than one occasion customers have actually taken home two pups!
Once a choice is made, I supply the new pet owner with a list of more ‘facts’: Birth records, AKC registration documents with accompanying instructions, shot record, worming schedule, suggested diet plan, and a short list of personally recommended “Dos and Don’ts”. In the mix of the exhilaration over their cuddly new friend, these can seem a nuisance, but they are vital to a healthy puppy and a long loving relationship.
Then off they go waving, holding their prize, rushing to buy food, carriers, and bedding etc. It’s been the most satisfying little business, but there is another ‘business’ that compares. The business of God is like the experience of our customers….or at least, it should be.
THE PROBLEM
There is a problem however. The problem is the customers; those who indicate they want what God has to offer, but behave otherwise. God’s ad says, “Come to ME.” Interested customers inquire, “What is it God is offering? What’s the price? How will it be with Him?” Some want to check Him out so they ask the central question, “Can you tell me the way to find Him?” Directions are then given.
All seems well until this point. But many, if not most, misuse the directions making THEM their goal. It is odd, actually. They pat themselves on the back for their accomplishment and expect God to praise them for working so hard or so well. It’s like expecting the puppies to congratulate their potential owner for making a right turn, arriving at a stop sign, or completing the first 10.3 miles. Reward for following the rules weakly substitutes for the intended joyful celebration. Crazy stuff huh?
An even more bizarre comparison exists. Some make the journey just to arrive at heaven…with only secondary interest in seeing God. It’s like a customer oblivious to the licking , jumping, excited herd of love at their ankles falling on their knees to kiss the ground of my front yard. Yet, relationship with the loving God is commonly something less than goal of Christian living. Bizarre stuff huh?
Directions, guidance, rules, laws…they are all essential. Fail to follow my directions and you’ll miss my house. Violate traffic signs and a crash could cost your life. Break the laws of nature and failure gravity could win as you zip off a cliff. Rules, guidelines, laws are our friends, but never our end. The goal is other; the goal is relationship. This is where most of Western religion has lost its way.
As with pups, there are no only guidelines to them, there are guidelines with them. Right and left turns lead to the puppies and launch the friendship, but other dos and don’ts must be followed afterwards for the relationship to grow. The same is true with God, and so is another ingredient—time.
Time is imperative. Buy a puppy, ignore it, fail to take him on walks, leave him alone in the garage, just keep the shot schedule, the worming routine, the feeding regiment and you’ll have a psychotic pet. I’ve seen it. Goldens are relationship dogs. You MUST spend time with them on walks, talking to them, grooming them, and playing with them. Otherwise, they actually become emotionally unbalanced. I’ve seen typically gentle loving Goldens become overly nervous, fearful, aggressive, and even depressed when mishandled by owners.
OVER TIME
Oddly, the opposite occurs in the case of people and God-- it is US who become unbalanced if we don’t pursue and develop the relationship with Him.
Laws and rule following is good, but not the goal. The dos and the don’ts have a place and must NOT be ignored; however, they are merely mechanisms to Him. Time with Him is also needed. If you could describe yourself as someone who is sold on God and want Him, but you are depressed, fearful, aggressive, and worried, please talk with Him about these and with him explore how to invest more time with Him….not keeping rules, but walking, talking, resting, visiting, and living. Relationships are like fruit ripening with age. They are sweeter over time.
Customers grinning down our drive and Believers living on another plane have share these things: rule keeping, relationship, and squeals of delight.
PS. If you’d like some ideas, I have some that are working for me. I’d gladly send them to you free. Write me (Stephen) at www.goodsoilmin@gmail.com and I’ll email them to you—no charge, no solicitation, no mailing lists.
All material copyrighted by Stephen Meeks
