Jim Leinbaugh

Hey Freddy! Do you have any idea where you’re going? Then why do you keep tugging on the stinkin’ leash? We’re supposed to be enjoying the journey, not just running full bore ahead to the next fork in the road!

Freddy is my dog. He loves camping and hiking as much as the rest of the family, jumping nearly 4 feet off the ground when you pull out his leash. As we head out down the trail, he excitedly weaves back and forth, sniffing every plant, marking his territory and growling at every bird and squirrel. I try to be patient early on as his enthusiasm and boundless curiosity has my arm completely outstretched hanging onto the taut leash.

Eventually he settles down and falls into the rhythm of a leisurely hike. But there’s still one problem. Freddy likes to be in the lead. He is visibly agitated when one of us is in front of him, or there’s another hiker farther up the trail. Normally that’s not a big deal. Until he wants to take the rock slope at full speed while we have to take the time to find our footing. Or we come to a fork in the path and he has no idea which direction to go.

A gentle tug on the leash and he’ll hop out of the weeds and back onto the path. A gentle tug on the leash and he gives us glance, then slows down the pace. A gentle tug and he looks over his shoulder at us to determine the next move. Now I realize dogs don’t understand human language. But every hike has me exasperatingly repeating, “Freddy, just because you’re in front does NOT mean you have any idea where you’re going! This would be a lot more fun if you just walked with me and followed my lead!”

So recently in church, the sermon was about the Holy Spirit. Who is He? What does He do? How can we be intimate with Him? It was a good talk. I have to admit that over the course of my Christian walk, the role of the Spirit has been a bit nebulous to me. I get that He lives in me, comforts me, empowers me, corrects me - all the churchy euphemisms.

But the question posed to the congregation that Sunday morning was, “Do you acknowledge Him? His presence in your life? Are you intimate with the Spirit? Proximity is not the same thing as relationship...”

So in a quiet time of contemplation, I asked the Spirit about our relationship, “How is it between us? What have You been trying to tell me that I’m not hearing?” His answer, “Well... Freddy...”

I must confess, it took me a minute. “Why do you have to be so mysterious all the time? Just tell me! Freddy, that’s all You’ve got?”

Oh. Leash lessons. 

Who’s leading here? I may be out in front, restless and excited and anticipating the next adventure around the corner. But... I have no idea where I’m going or when I'm supposed to get there. I feel the gentle tug on the leash all the time. I glance over my shoulder. “Is this the right path? Am I going too fast? Why aren’t you keeping up?”

And the Spirit lovingly and gently reminds me that even though I may run ahead at times, He’s setting the pace, He’s determining the destination. It’s not a race. It’s a journey. And ultimately, there’s no place I’d rather be than by His side.