The Doggie Huddle

I have heard Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) say many times that you really don't get the dog you want, but the dog you need. As I watched my pack of dogs (see 7/9 post for picture) yesterday during a particularly bad thunderstorm, God revealed to me and important truth about the church.

About 3:30 pm yesterday, I had settled in my recliner to watch Jeopardy! when a REALLY BIG thunderstorm started. Now, I am not talking about your run-of-the-mill thunderstorm. I am talking about the kind with the blinding lightning, even inside, and thunder that rattles your windows (It also knocks out the satellite so I missed Jeopardy! :( )

Anyway, with no cue from me, at the first clap of thunder Buddy, the puppy, walks across the couch and comes to lie beside Sassy, the older Boston that lies in the corner section of my sectional next to me. At the same time, Squirt, the lab, came and laid down under my recliner. We were all within 12 inches of each other.

There were none of the usual signs of anxiety, i.e., panting, shaking, whining. I am not afraid of thunderstorms, after all, my weather radio had not gone off, so there was nothing to be afraid of. It was just a lot of noise and wind and lightning. By some seemingly primal instinct, our little pack gathered in one place. My assumption is that we were protecting each other but I'm not sure (I have gone to Cesar's website and asked him. I hope he answers me.)

As we sat there waiting for the storm to pass and the TV to return to my favorite show, I began to think about the church and how, when one of the body is going through a storm, we all gather around that person to comfort them. At least we should. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 states, "He [God] comforts in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ." We go through our own storms in order to mature enough to help a fellow believer or even a lost person.

Even Paul needed members of the church as he faced his final battle, "Make every effort to come to me soon...Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry." (2 Timothy:4: 9a, 11). Paul called for his brothers in Christ to comfort him in the final hours before his execution.

In John 11:19 the women come to comfort Mary and Martha after the death of Lazarus. (I wonder if they brought food. Somehow we seem to think food will bring comfort.) They were there for Mary and Martha in their grief. I would imagine (in my spiritual imagination) that more than one of those women had gone through the loss of a loved one and were there to give to Mary and Martha the same kind of comfort they had received.

When I was a teenager, I heard a pastor say that fellowship is two people in the same ship. At the time I rolled my eyes thinking, "How corny can you get?" But yesterday, it all came home to me. See, I am by nature a caregiver and most caregivers NEVER ask for anything no matter how bad things are. But yesterday, my "pack" showed me the true meaning of fellowship. No one was freaking out or really even nervous. But we were all there in case another member of the pack need our comfort or protection.

That's how we the church should be. We should be as aware of one another's lives and walks with Christ, that no one should have to ask for help. We need know them the way my pack of dogs know each other and know when we need to be close to a member, not to tell them how to act, but to be available just in case they need protection and comfort as they weather their storm. Now THAT'S the meaning of fellowship.