Amos the Labradoodle

This morning, as usual, I took Amos outside for him to do his duty. My custom with Amos is to attach a rope to his collar so if necessary I can grab the rope to encourage Amos to go inside when I think it is time. Amos has found the paper that is on the driveway to be very interesting. No, he has not learned how to read yet, but he does love to pick up the paper and run around the yard with his prize. Amos knows if I call him to come inside he does not have to listen, unless I hold the rope. The other day I found out that just stepping on the rope was not enough proof for Amos; I had to pick it up. When I have the end of the rope in my hand and tell Amos to come inside, he runs right up to the door. There is no need to use the rope to pull him toward the door.

After we went inside, Amos ran upstairs and jumped in bed with Lori and I sat down to read some from the Bible. This morning I started with Psalm 104, which describes the complete control that God has over every facet of creation.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth. Psalm 104:6-9 (NIV)

God speaks and creation obeys. You could say there is a rope on the collar of every element of creation and the rope is in God’s hand. When God speaks, creation obeys.

When I have an obvious display of my lack of control over simple things, like this morning with Amos, it is comforting to know that God, my Father, has control of everything. I do not have to be in control.