It doesn’t hurt that Charlie has such a friendly demeanor, either. Even when people are afraid of dogs in general, they typically like Charlie. He is somehow sensitive to their nervousness and takes a gentle approach. Ultimately, Charlie is after a person’s heart so he can get some doggy attention.
Unfortunately, not all dogs share Charlie’s lovable traits. It’s why we have so many animals in shelters.
Not very many people can find it in their hearts to love scruffy dogs. It’s hard to cuddle the dog with wiry hair or a skin condition. It isn’t fun to have the untrained and insecure pet in your home, either.
I am always in awe of those individuals who can find it in their hearts to love what seem to be the unlovable pets. Yet, somehow they do. We often seem more able to love those odd and unusual pets then one another though, don’t we? I suppose it is because we can see the helplessness of animals better than we can understand the failings of one another. Yet, is it really so different?
It seems that we are able to quickly form judgments of others based on their outward appearance or affiliation.
We isolate ourselves from others based on their color, religion, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, the list goes on and on.
Why do we do that? Why do we find ways of rejecting others rather than accepting them? Why do we find all the ways to not love one another in stead of loving them?
I think that it comes from our fallen nature. It is our automatic response to not love the other because we think we are unlovable ourselves.
We forget that God has forgiven us. We forget that He gave His only Son to prove to us how much He loves us. We ignore His Word and instead turn inward.
What we fail to realize when we judge others is that we cause them to judge themselves. Unless I treat the other with dignity and respect, how can they know that they have dignity and value? Unless I behave in a loving way toward my neighbor, how can they know that they are loved?
This past week we celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. A man that called us all to put down those prejudices and peacefully work together. Since 1996, the day has become known as the Martin Luther King Day of Service. A day for Americans to honor Dr. King and to make a difference for others by serving in the communities. Dr. King stood up for equal rights and even gave his life because he believed in what Jesus taught, that we are all children of God.
Jesus called us to a very difficult task, to love one another. Loving others is so difficult because of the many ways we differ, but what if we didn’t see that as a curse, but instead as a blessing?
I believe that is what Jesus is calling us to. To see what we each have to offer one another. Instead of seeing the other as lacking something we have, we could see what they have that we lack. We could see loving each other as making the valleys high and the mountains low. We could see loving our neighbor as preparing the way for the Lord.
We aren’t all pretty on the outside. Truly, none of us is perfect. What we can recognize is that we are all made in the image of God, and so, we all have something to offer.
In order for others to realize their potential, we need to call it forth from them, not condemn them.
Perhaps, in loving our neighbor and those that are different from us, we could catch a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.
Right, Charlie?
-Christy Cabaniss
