Someone Left the Gate Open

When our son was two years old, he started asking for a puppy.  We hoped it was just one of those things that would fade away when something else caught his interest.  No such luck.   He was relentless.  On July 10, 1990, Matthew’s puppy was born.  Her mama was a blonde cocker spaniel with a pedigree.  Her daddy was a fence-climbing black dachshund referred to by the mama’s owner as “That Scoundrel.”  Matthew named his puppy “April” after April O’Neil of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fame.  And April was with us for the next seventeen years. 

April was a great dog – patient with Matthew, long-suffering, and a real character in her own right.  Her greatest delight was to find the gate open.  As careful as we tried to be, she always knew when we had messed up and left the gate open or not latched.    We called her a Houdini dog.  She could escape with the slightest opportunity.  And she would run.  And we would chase her.  It was the highlight of her day.  April had a way of enjoying things.  She always lived her life like someone left the gate open.

Maybe you haven’t had the April experience.  Maybe you are still hemmed up, fenced in, and not feeling much joy.  I know how that is.  I have had the unpleasant occasion to work in an office run for some time by the equivalent of mean girls from junior high.   You know about them, but hopefully you haven’t experienced them - the toxic leader who uses the minions to fuel her ego and make her think she is coming up with all the ideas – the coward who lets others do her bullying – the ones who tell just enough of the truth so they can claim it is not a lie. 

I know all about it.  I’ve been stuck there.  But no longer!  What they meant for evil, God meant for good.  While they were being mean, manipulative, cowardly, and underhanded, God was using their weakness and self-centeredness to help me.  Now, granted, it didn’t feel like help at the time, but it didn’t take long before I could see it. What began as a bad experience turned out to be one of the best.   God made sure that I get to enjoy both my life and my work -  like Someone left the gate open!  Because He did!

 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. “  Revelation 3:8