Continuing in our series with the baggage theme, I am taking a slight detour but still in staying in the bag dept. There is a comical scene that I frequently come across out here and it never ceases to entertain me.
Have you ever seen a pooping dog calendar? It’s a disgustingly humorous gag gift to give someone as each month contains a different picture of a dog in full dump mode. These action shots haunt the pages of all 12 months. Well, where we live, we have a daily calendar of this scene in real life. It seems that with the population density issue there is also a pet pollution problem.
There are signs all over the place that remind people to pick up after their animals when they do their business. And they are ALWAYS doing their business EVERYWHERE. From sidewalks to steps, parks to patios, and grass to gravel dogs be dumping.
Owners of all character-types watch their pets closely as the mutt deposits their doodie. Then, MOST, not all because you see landmines regularly, but MOST pickup their pet plops like some kind of rare and precious commodity. After the humble task of doodoo extraction comes the hilarity of the proud carry. You see their swinging sack of crap and wonder how long they are going to keep it, while being disgusted and laughing at this casual yet crass act.
Sure, it’s disgrossting, but imagine if this were what happened. Instead of bagging up those steamy morsels themselves, people were forcing others to carry their dog’s turd totes. This would no longer be funny, but flat out wrong. No one would go for that.
But that’s what people were doing in a church culture. Jesus was getting onto people for doing just that in Luke 11. Jesus says, “Hold up, folks. You load up a bunch of crap on people that you yourselves aren’t even willing to pick up.” (11:46 my paraphrase)
This is the challenge for today and speaks to our ability to give grace and practice selflessness. Jesus does NOT say that we can shout at people, point out their wrongs, or cast judgement ONLY IF and WHEN we follow that specific rule that they are breaking well enough. In fact, He condemns the actions of people that point out faults and failures of people without coming alongside them and partnering with them.
We know from his encounter with the “woman caught in the act of adultery” (John 8) how he feels about casting judgment on people in general, so this is not about defining WHEN we can. It is more about calling people to participate in the crap carrying chaos that plagues our lives.
I know that we don’t always like doing the right thing or that we can often excuse our own behavior due to knowing our ‘heart’ or ‘intentions.’ And trust me, I don’t like picking up my dog’s poop, but it is a necessary responsibility that comes with having a dog. I also don’t appreciate when people fail to pick up their dog’s business, but scripture teaches that I’m not exempt from picking up my dog’s dookie NOR am I in any position to do anything but help others carry their burdens of canine bombs.
Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Carry each others burdens and in doing this, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Let’s keep our mouth shut more, grab some bags, and start scooping poop!!!
#CarryingCrap
#BurdenBags
#BaggageCheck
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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