There were at least four trucks and SUV’s out looking for the lost Dusty. My daughter came home from work to find that her dog, Dusty, had gotten out. By the time she had checked the logical and easy places it was dark and snowing rather hard.
The wind was whipping as the snow bombarded us. Visibility was poor as we drove slowly, calling for Dusty out the window. Occasionally we would stop, get out and yell his name some more, then we would move on, all the while yelling Dusty’s name. My daughter passed me on the road at one point and we discussed whether or not this was getting us anywhere. She said she was going to keep looking so we did.
While I was driving, I kept thinking about the odds of us finding him. We were on the roads because that was really all we could do in the snowstorm. But what were the odds that Dusty was on the roads with hundred and hundreds of acres of fields and woods all around us. The last he was seen was about 5 miles from their home. That’s the area we were concentrating on, but that had also been more than an hour before we started.
I was sitting on the side of the road near the woods at one point, just listening. I kept hearing . . . something, but I just couldn’t decide what it was. I got out of the car, went back to the woods, listening again, but there was nothing. I got in the car, moved it up about 20 feet and listened again. There was that noise, but I just couldn’t place it.
I opened the door to investigate again and screamed because right there at my door was Dusty! The poor little guy was frozen but so happy to be found. He jumped in my lap, tail wagging with joy. I can tell you that meeting was a divine appointment because there is really no other way, we would find him on our own.
As I dried him off, it occurred to me that we were all yelling from different places and I had this vision of Dusty running to one place when he heard his name only to hear it somewhere else and would then head in that direction. Since I was so focused on some random noise, I didn’t move for a few minutes so he was able to find me.
Dusty was no worse for the adventure, and got lots of love and spoiled the rest of the night.
I couldn’t help but wonder, how often do I do that to God? I start out praying, fully intending to focus on God and my Bible time, but my mind just moves from one place to another, never staying on any one thought long enough to find my way to Him.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
He is waiting to be discovered. Like Dusty he wants us to find Him. I can see God leaning into the wind, waiting patiently for my thoughts and mind to come back to Him, right where He is. When they do, I can imagine the pure delight He feels, as well as the relief mixed with joy I feel – we are together again!
Dusty was so happy to see me that he jumped in my lap and just wanted to stay there. The weather was so bad that I couldn’t let him stay there, so he sat beside the seat with his head on my shoulder, he just wanted to be near a human after his long day of chaos. Him. You will find Him waiting with open arms to warm your heart and fill your soul.
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