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| Bay's Lesson on Performance |
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The last two weeks have been tough ones in the office, so this week I worked from home a couple of days. The good part about that is that Bay and I can mosey down to the beach and work on his retrieving skills. He thinks we are just having fun, but we are both learning through the process.
 Fall appeared suddenly here in southern Maryland. The temperatures have been warm, so we didn't have time to see it coming, then one day we awoke and all the leaves were changing colors. As Bay and I were walking to the beach, I was soaking in the beautiful fall colors and marveling about how God can sure paint a beautiful canvas.
When we got to the beach, the waves were high. Very high. I hadn't seen them this high in a long time. As we approached the beach area where we play, we went through our routine. I can see every muscle in Bay twitching as he can't wait to get in the water. But, wait he does because that is how he has been trained. He sits as I take the leash off of him and put it in my pocket. He looks at me, then the water, then back at me. All I have to say is "OK" and off he goes splashing in the water, running as hard as he can along the beach scaring all the birds and every other living creature around. Bay has arrived. The beach is his. He runs back to me and looks at me like, "Well, are you going to throw that thing or not?" As always I make the first few throws really easy. He has way to much energy to expect to be "in the groove". He runs out, gets the toy, and brings it back to me.
Bay and I have just started working on hand signals. He gets the basics. If I point up in the air that means go further. If I point to the right, that means go right. If I point to the left, that means go left . If I point to my toes, that means bring it to my feet. When we first started with the one where I point to my toes, I think Bay thought he had done something bad. I never have to find what bad thing Bay does. When I walk into the room, he comes crawling to me with his belly on the floor and puts his head at my feet. The first few times I pointed at my feet and said "Bring here", he crawled on his belly. I guess he thought he had done something bad and I knew about it before he did. He still only gets the commands about 10% of the time. The hardest thing for me is to get his attention when he can't find the retrieve toy. Bay has his mind set on finding it and won't stop until he does.
The big waves gave us a chance to try out our signals. He did good until one throw. I know he saw it land. The water was smooth where it landed and Bay had a bead on it when he hit the water. However, a couple of big waves hit it before he was able to swim to it and he missed it. He kept swimming out into the deeper and deeper water. I was only able to see him less than half the time because the waves were at least three feet high and that was considerably higher than Bay's head. He did everything we have taught him to do except look back at me. He swam back and forth looking both ways for the toy. I called him many times, but he couldn't hear me over the  waves. I started getting concerned because Bay was so focused on retrieving he was getting into very deep water and very far from the shore. Plus the current was pulling him away from the area of the beach that is "Bay's beach". I was very concerned and didn't know what to do.
I thought through all the things I have taught him and the only thing that came to mind was to turn my back to him. He knows when I turn my back that I am leaving a certain area. It is no longer time to play, but to come with me - a lesson I taught him during our walks in the woods. So, I stood there with my back to Bay. Everything within me wanted to turn and look for him, but I didn't dare turn because that would signal to him that we were staying longer and he would continue looking for the retrieve toy.
It took a good seven minutes and I heard Bay panting in the shallow water behind me. I turned around and looked at him. I was so happy to see him and so grateful my motions worked. What he did, though, totally surprised me. Bay crawled to me on his belly. He was sure that he had done something terribly wrong by not bringing the toy back to me. Not being a time for discipline or praise, it was important that I reengaged him in the retrieve. The toy was only a few feet off shore now - the current had brought it back in quite a bit. I kneeled down next to Bay and put a hand on each side of his head. He didn't like that. It was very uncomfortable to him - as if putting my arms around a soaked dog is my idea of comfort. He fought me. I pointed alongside of his head to the toy. Eventually he saw it and took off with all the energy he had in him. He was never happier to bring that toy back to my feet.
16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
We completed another twenty or so retrieves. Bay was worn out. He was ready to head home when we left.
On our walk home as I was soaking in the different colors of the fall season, I thought over what had happened. Bay had sincerely thought he had done something wrong by not retrieving like I had wanted him to. He knows he gets lots of praise when he does it right, so, I suppose, he thought he was going to get punished when he did it wrong.
15:22 And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
I wonder how many of us are performance driven, too. I don't think it is a male thing or a female thing. I think many of us are so driven to be accepted that we think our performance is the critical factor. We want to be accepted by our parents, our spouse, our boss, our peers, so we do things to be accepted. When we aren't accepted, we try and do more. I think we do that with God, too. We want to do things to be accepted by Him. We want to perform. We don't want to let Him down.
18:20 \18:19\He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Don't get me wrong, rewards are a good thing and much needed in the development of character. How do my children know what is good behavior and bad behavior unless I reward one and punish the other? However, somewhere in my walk with them comes a time like today with Bay. A time when they have failed. A time when they think they should be punished. A time when they know they let me down. They approach me with humilty. I see they know they have fallen short. Instead of "piling on" any kind of punishment, though, I redirect their energies in such a way that they see that I love them in their failures as much as I love them in their successes. With Bay it was an important lesson today because it showed him that we are a team out there. It is not quite so easy with people.
We need to have an ongong walk of acceptance since so many people are performance diriven. It is difficult to do, too. How can I show acceptance to an employee that isn't performing? I can. It takes a lot of work, though. How can I accept the fact that God loves me even when I fail Him? That is hard for me to fathom, but He does. I know it because my walk with Him has been long and He has proven faithful to me. I know His word says it, but it is one thing to know what His word says and yet another to know Him. I know Him.
103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, Nor rewarded us after our iniquities. 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.
Bay and I arrive home as I ponder this whole idea of performance acceptance. I pour a tall glass of tea and sit out on the porch. Bay joins me and lays down at my feet. How do we keep ourselves from falling into the performance acceptance trap? It is so easy. We like the praise of our parents, our peers, our pastor, our boss, our spouse. As I sip my tea I realize how our whole society is built on this performance acceptance idea. The kids who do better in school get recognized. The athletes who perform best at their sport get recognized. Both actions can lead to destruction if not properly balanced with a true humility.
The only solution I see today is to walk out our life with God. See that He doesn't depend on our performance at all. He loves us unconditionally. He loved us before we came to Him. He loved us in our sin. He will continue to love us regardless of our performance. May I learn how to do the same with those around me.
Just another day. A man, a dog, and his God. |
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Kathy |
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October 20, 2007 at 9:32pm |
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Thank you, Voice! God spoke through your blog tonight. This blog was written directly to my soul! Thank you for offering yourself as His instrument. Stupendous blog! |
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| TGBTG Kathy, forever and ever! |
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Denise |
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October 21, 2007 at 5:22am |
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| THanks Voice! Have a great day. |
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Esther |
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October 21, 2007 at 9:53am |
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THanks for sharing.wonderful... |
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| Awesome word, bro! Be blessed. |
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Deb |
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October 21, 2007 at 12:26pm |
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| I felt like I was actually there with you and your dog, the way you described it so thoroughly. I love these stories you share of you and your dog. And the fall colors are here now too, it is breathtaking! |
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Valya |
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October 21, 2007 at 1:43pm |
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| THANK YOU... |
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| Thanks for all your comments! I really appreciate it. It is nice to know that others see something in the words, too. TGBTG!! |
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Brent |
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October 21, 2007 at 7:05pm |
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| Voice, very good. You sure hit the nail on the head with the performance based acceptance. |
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From my perspective, it is difficult not to take a performance based approach. Worship leaders are usuallu judged by how they sing and that is the truth when it is all said and done. And while it would seem sensible to want someone whose voice doesn't make fuel freeze...there comes a time when "worship leading" needs to be a far seperation from singing ability.
One can entertain people without leading the congregation in worship. One of the best worship leaders I know cannot hold a tune...but he doesn't try to be the singer...he leads his congregation and his music team effortlessly. Last week we had our worst "performance" since we took the position at the church I am currently at. Most of the team was absent (for good cause) and nothing seemed to work right.
But I have learned through a couple of years of this that we cannot worship the move of God (that is idolatry)...we just worship and praise God for who He His and what He has done. He said to do everything to His glory...never said it had to look polished...I truly believe He lets stuff become chaotic even for the professionals just to see where their heart is. Needless to say, today's service was a very intimate time for our church family...maybe one of the "best"
Thought I would chime in. It is difficult not to let performance be the standard for acceptance... |
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| Yes !!Great blog!! To God Be The Glory! |
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Thanks Chaki!
WYP, "I truly believe He lets stuff become chaotic even for the professionals just to see where their heart is." Couldn't agree with you more.
I should state, I think that performance is important. Performance builds a standard, keeps things Kingdom quality, builds discipline. The key is that it isn't a basis for our love or His, and for that I am truly thankful.
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Glenn |
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October 22, 2007 at 12:17pm |
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Thanks Voice, as one who often finds himself trying to hard to be accepted, this is a timely word.
peace |
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Glenn |
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October 22, 2007 at 12:18pm |
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| By the way, Bay is a beautiful dog. |
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Denise |
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October 22, 2007 at 4:08pm |
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Beautiful voice....just beautiful, I especially like the description of fall and as Glenn said Bay is beautiful. The lines in the last paragraph would be my prayer as well...He loved us before we came to Him. He loved us in our sin. He will continue to love us regardless of our performance. May I learn how to do the same with those around me.
Thank you so much for sharing |
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| Thank you Glen and thank you Denise. That is my heart's cry right now. |
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Beautiful, brother !
I am trying to figure out how to allow God to bring humility into my heart. It seems that as He is trying to bring repentance into an area of my life I am having to find out where the path is that leads to repentance.Have you had those times when you knew your heart was hard about an area or issue, and yet you knew God wanted repentance? That's the time I mean. I wish that God could be so direct as holding my head in His hands and pointing me the right direction. I know that a soft/broken heart isn;t a "prize" to be gathered in, but still........I'm going to think about this one Voice, I think maybe God has some things to say about this struggle. Thanks again for sharing it with us, I keep thinking I'm on teh walk with you, can even smell the ocean, and maybe even a bit of wet dog ! |
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Dennis, I think we all come to that place every now and then. No easy answers. For me, I just accept it from God and start to walk it out...there has to be a change that comes with it and that is the "walking it out part".
...to share in my walk a little more...by the time I am done working with Bay we are both soaked. I reward him with affection when he does what is right which means I rub his back and his side while he is soaking wet. Many times he shakes the water off of himself as I am taking the retrieving toy from him. By the time we get home, we both smell like the water...and we both smell equally bad... |
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| Voice, your longer blogs are always beautifully written. The lessons in them always resonate with me too. Thanks so much for taking the time to put this down and then to share it. God bless! ~mike |
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| Thanks Mike. Appreciate your comments a lot. You do a great job as well. |
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| I wish I could add more than just one star! This blog is wonderful! |
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| Oh man... thanks to Kathy --now I've got another thing (your series of blog posts) I want to read..... LOL |
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| Thanks Kristie! Thanks Hal! Always good to get feedback. It's that performance acceptance thing... |
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JessIAm |
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October 26, 2007 at 12:21pm |
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Voice, you have a real gift for prose. I didn't just get a good spiritual reminder, I was warmly entertained. It felt like I was in front of a toasty fireplace, hearing a story from a good friend. Bay has his mind set on finding it and won't stop until he does. I think God made dogs to show us single minded exuberance. He made cats to show us how to relax. |
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| I have a different opinion about cats...but thanks for the comments! |
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| Thank you restore...my near neighbor to the north...I am glad you enjoy the stories. |
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| I love your blog,felt like I was on Bays beach with you guys.I love the way God speaks to us through all things,even our pets. |
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| Thanks for the kind words racunpoodle....and, yes, God is an awesome God. |
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Ragland |
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November 01, 2007 at 7:34pm |
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| A very thought provoking blog. Yes God loves us all. |
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| Thanks Ragland. Appreciate the comment very much. |
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