Brandy is our first dog. She’s a “sweetheart,” as most describe her, and is now nearly nine years old. We got her as a puppy from a group who rescues dogs. She’s a mixed breed: Golden Retriever and Shetland Sheepdog. At the same time we got Brandy, we got a kitten that is named Tabby. They’ve been raised together, but give each other plenty of room. Tabby hisses at Brandy once and a while, which scares Brandy. A year ago we picked up another rescued dog, Sina (pronounced SHE-NAH). Now Sina doesn’t give into Tabby at all, and from day one, Tabby gives Sina plenty of room. Hum. Guess Tabby got what was coming to her. Now, occasionally, Sina chases her around. Sina doesn’t hurt Tabby, just likes to sniff at her. Sina seems to understand Tabby is part of the household. Though they’re still not buddies, exactly.
Sina is a good hunter, and eats squirrels and rabbits she finds out back. She’ll see a rabbit on the other side of the fence, and has not problem heading over it to chase it. Brandy, on the other hand, chases squirrels and rabbits but doesn’t have a clue what to do with them. One day she chased one around the yard and it finally got stuck trying to get under the corral fence. Brandy just stood there looking at the poor thing until I came out to help it get away. Sina would have eaten it without a sidewards glance.
Brandy likes to talk tough, though. One day, barking up a storm after seeing something in the back, I let her out just to shut her up. She flew down the stairs then out through the garden to the fence that runs along a creek. It wasn’t two minutes and she was back at the door whining to get in. I opened the door and Brandy sulked in, tail between her legs, and went into hiding. I think she barked at a coyote hunting the creek.
This morning when I came into the kitchen, Brandy and Sina lay on a rug together. Tabby lay under a dining table about five feet away. They had a truce going, I suppose. What popped into my head was that there is a time coming when the lion lays with the lamb. To me it means there’s no longer conflict. And I’m just a little tired of conflict. It’s in all the soap opera-style television shows, especially the “reality” shows. And the traffic, whew! People cutting people off, and I’ve mentioned how frustrated and irritated I get, and how upset I am with myself when I participate myself. I should somehow be better than all that.
There’s the crime that seems so rampant in our “modern” society. It means we have built up our local sheriff to be a military operation ready for combat.
Which brings me to real combat, real conflict. The Earth is at war. World War III. It seems everyone is against someone. And being an American, if feels like every one is against the United States. Jealousy? I really think so. But it’s not just us. At one time there were 80 or so wars going on in different places around the globe. Most were not reported on in the world media: too small. For instance, While I was in Darjeeling a number of years ago the Gurkha “patriots” were fighting against India for their own place in the world. On the opposite border of India, in Kashmir, there were constant clashes with the Indian Army. And India and Pakistan have been at war seemingly forever. When lines were drawn by colonial powers, like the British, they lumped a lot of cats and dogs together, so to speak.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Romans 8:19-21
And so we groan, too, to be set free. And through Lord Y’shuaJesus, Messiah, we have been spiritually set free and in time shall be physically free from the conflict of this world. Until then we Praise the Name of Y’shuaJesus, and say “Maranatha! Come, Lord, Come!”
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 