Man’s Best Friend

Audio Version | Short Film Adaptation

This is a story about my dog and how much I love him. It is about a misadventure of his, my attempts to help him, and how I am planning to make things right again.

I've always enjoyed having my dog next to me from the day he was born. Even outside, as he was playing, I would keep him confined to my yard with a boundary so he would be safe. My dog enjoyed himself, and we had many great times at my home. He would run, jump, and just lay around in the sun with no worries in the world. When I would talk to him, he would listen to me intently as though I was the only thing that mattered to him in the world. I mostly enjoyed making things for him. I remember smiling often as I watched him spend his time exploring the things I made. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him; providing for him was my greatest joy, and it still is!

One day I was challenged by someone who wanted to test my dog. This person said he didn’t think my dog loved me in return; we got into a ‘love’ discussion. He went on further to say the only reason my dog was hanging around me is because of the fence I set up. What this person said made sense to me, after all, if my dog loved me, why would he leave and go out of this area? As a test, I allowed the gate door to be unlocked and the door opened, but prior to opening the gate I warned my dog to not leave. Since my dog is a fairly smart dog, and he’s always trusted me, I was confident things would be okay, and besides he’s always kept me within his sight.

But things turned bad quickly. The temptation of the gate opening proved to be too much for my dog. It was only a short time until he walked past the gate opening and he looked out at the woods nearby. The man who had challenged me was in the woods calling his name! The man’s calling aroused my dog’s curiosity of the woods, and what might be contained there. It proved too much for my dog because he ran off into the woods! I was heartbroken for his disobedience because I knew it would cause him harm. He’s been gone for a while and my heart won’t allow me to just forget about him; I love him too much. I miss seeing him, but most of all, I miss his fellowship. It’s as if a part of me is missing.

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen him, but I know he is running around in the woods next to my home because I can hear him barking. He is definitely lost. There are times the sound of his barking will get closer to my home, and then, after a short time, his barking sounds will drift further away again; it’s as if something is keeping him from me. To make the matter worse, I can hear his occasional yelping; a terrible sound which breaks my heart because I know he is in pain. I am afraid for my dog because he doesn’t know how to sustain himself for a long period of time, let alone how to defend himself; there is just too much out in the woods that can harm him! Each day I get up early in the morning and I call him. I try to offer him hope through the sound of my voice. I fear, though, he is so busy dealing with his survival that he’s not taking the time to listen for me.

As a way to help my dog, I decided that someone needed to venture into the woods to find him and lead him home. And because I needed to stay home in case my dog returned on his own, my son, who loves my dog just as much as I do, volunteered to go into the woods to find him. So I sent my son off on his journey. My son was gone for a short time and then he returned home battered and bruised. My son told me his story.

My son explained to me that when he found my dog he tried to comfort my dog, but my dog did not recognize him. So my son tried to encourage my dog by pointing to the path that leads home hoping he would follow the path, but my dog was so confused that he ignored my son. My son then offered my dog some food to strengthen him and offer him hope, but he only devoured the food without any thought or care for what was given to him. My dog even went so far as to snarl at my son, and then he lunged and bit my son on the hand! I am not angry towards my dog for attacking my son; I understand he is confused, in pain, and he didn’t know what he was doing. Now that my son is back home with me, we can only hope that my dog will remember us and follow the path back to my place. And although my son suffered, I don’t regret sending him; it was worth it and my son agrees.

I need to consider what I am going to do next because I love my dog too much to just give up on him. I guess I can just keep calling and hoping he will listen or get hungry enough that he’ll return home on his own. But it’s just too heartbreaking to keep listening to the pain I sense in the sound of his yelping; it’s tearing me apart inside. I cannot let this go on much longer. So I’ve decided that some day I am going to make things right again. My plan is to purchase all the land as far as I can see, and then my son and I will separate out all the bad things in the land that can cause my dog harm. On this day, all will be put back to the way it is meant to be. I will once again be in pure fellowship with my dog and watch him explore my endless creations. My son, my dog, and I will be together again in a new place without any pain, sorrow, or tears!

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
–Isaiah 11:6-9

This story is an allegory of our relationship with God, and His son, Jesus Christ. We are God’s greatest treasure because we give God’s creation purpose. He creates for us out of love and through His creations we experience who He is. But we have become separated from God because of our disobedience; we disobeyed God and ran towards sin and we allowed sin to enter into our soul. We are now in a world of sin and disorder. But God has not given up on us. Out of His love for us, He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to help us find the way back home. Sin causes us to reject what is good. So when Christ arrived here on earth in flesh, we did not recognize Him, we attacked Him, we lunged at Him, and we drove nails into His hands. But Jesus defended us on the cross and called out to His Father, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Christ returned home to His Father battered, bruised, and with thorns on His head. And now, through God’s abundant grace, He withholds His judgment for our disobedience; He gives us all a chance to overcome what is evil and turn towards Him. We are to follow the path which Christ has laid out before us so that we may find our way back into the Father’s place; a place with no pain, no sorrows; a place of pure peace. We are all called to return to fellowship with God, because it is only through glorifying God that we solidify our one true purpose in creation.

Dear Father God,

I’ve inherited a soul which is sinful, and as much as I know it is not good, I dwell in sin, I desire sin, I live for sin, and I spread it. I realize today that I am powerless to conquer sin on my own, and that sin is the root of all my pain and suffering. I have become separated from you.

I yearn for peace and the comfort only you can offer. I yearn for a place where I do not need to struggle, fight, suffer emotionally or physically; I just want to be at peace with everyone and the world in which I live. It is only through you that I can find peace.

Please God, help me to hear your voice in my soul and lead me back to you. I give my sin over to your son. I will start leading a life that you, and only you, have set out before me. I will stop living my life for me, and start living my life for you. I will begin by relinquishing my selfish desires, so I can see that by serving you I am fulfilled.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.