Ernie’s about 18 months old.
Thanks to our talented friend Steve, he’s preparing to be a service dog. People frequently comment on how calm he is – for his age.
That calm is part of the training. Left to his instincts, Ernie would react instantly to every squirrel and leaf. He’s learning, slowly, not to be distracted, to distinguish what matters from what doesn’t.
Ernie’s wolf ancestors needed that sharp awareness of their immediate surroundings to survive. With training, he can relax and do his job calmly without jumping at every little movement or sound.
I wonder if you and I have a little in common with Ernie. Our instincts tell us to react to “right now,” to focus on short-term results. Media, advertisers, and politicians capitalize. They amplify the threats and promise instant cures.
And a bit like a patient trainer, Jesus reminds us that we don’t have to jump at shadows. He’s with us through the world’s inevitable short-term troubles. We can live in peace and invest in the long-term things that really matter.
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I spoke recently with Jon Barratt, CEO of Project Rescue Foundation. Jon said their new initiatives focus on the notion that an investment in preventing people from being trafficked will have a huge long-term impact.
That, of course, requires trust. Our instincts say we must jump in right now, rescue and help the victims, but rescue by itself doesn’t address the system. Systemic change requires strategic, long-term investment and calm, rational execution.
Let’s not chase every squirrel. Let’s walk with Jesus and invest in what matters.