Prone to Wander

Our Lady dog has developed an obstinate need to wander. We are trying hard to figure out how to deal with her and keep her out of trouble. We have almost twenty acres that she is free to roam at will, and it is a veritable puppy play ground with rabbits to chase (as well as skunks!); a pond to swim in; goats, chickens and ducks to annoy and lots of tall grass, just waiting to be explored.

But on the other side of the fence is an awesome, amazing, never ending world to be explored. "The road goes ever on and on..." as it were. Deer, turkey and cows to be chased. Creeks and trails to explore...

We yell at her, plead with her, threaten her, beg with her... we even try to bribe her with treats and stuff. Still she goes her own way. We have started having to tie her up in the early morning and late evening when the temptation is the greatest. We need to make sure she is safely inside before the neighbors drive home on their ATV, and stays there until she forgets the temptation to try to catch up with them... which usually takes her up and onto the main road. We are looking at fencing in a part of our yard so that she can have some freedom, but stll stays close by unless we are out in the field with her.

We hate to restrict her freedom, but we are very concerned that she will get in trouble or hurt badly. We have grown to be very fond of this crazy dog, and we want her to be around for a while! Unfortunately she doesn't understand us very well... or if she does understand, she too often tends to ignore our admonitions. She gets very sad when she is chained up, but it is for her own good.

I am thinking of how the Lord might feel when we ignore His admonition, when we make the choice to wander instead of stay put. When we make the decision to do what we know is something He doesn't want us to do. We live in an age of grace after all.  "It won't hurt anyone if I just slip through this fence and enjoy the world for a bit." "I'm not doing anything really wrong, and anyway - no one else will probably ever know what I am up to." "I can always go back when I have finished having my fun, and I know He loves me and will receive me back."

I am thinking of how we complain when He finds it in our best interest to restrict us in some way for our own good... or when we get hurt because of our own wrong choices... or when we really do hurt someone else when we let things get out of control. "Why didn't the Father take better care of me?"

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart. O take and seal it; Seal it for thy courts above."

What will it take for us to stay close to the one who paid the ultimate price so that we could have freedom in Him?

    Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
         For I believe in Your commandments. 
    Before I was afflicted I went astray,
         But now I keep Your word. 
    You are good and do good;
         Teach me Your statutes.

(Psalm 119:66-68)