Chance and Letti

My son’s dog, Chance, has an affinity for running away. I truly don’t think he wants to actually leave his people, he just seems to enjoy his freedom. Unfortunately, Chance doesn’t understand the dangers that come along with being separated from those that care for him.

Whenever Chance takes off on one of his adventures, my son tries to catch him by calling and following and coaxing to no avail. Chance treats the whole ordeal like a game and continues to run further away – at times wandering into the road several miles from home. After the last overnight excursion, my son decided to try a new approach. He asked his friend to bring his dog, Letti – Chance’s best dog friend – by to see if he might respond to her. When Chance saw Letti, he immmediately came to her and happily followed her into the house. Letti served as the encourager and ambassador, leading Chance back to the safe place of his loving master’s arms.

When I heard the story of how Letti “rescued” Chance, it immediately reminded me that we have the opportunity to be a Letti to so many people. Many run from God, not because they don’t believe or don’t want to be in relationship with Him, but simply because they don’t understand His love and they desire freedom. They don’t realize the dangers of being separated from Him.

People are often drawn back into relationship with the Lord through relationship with other people. God uses us to demonstrate His love and kindness to them so that they will follow us into the safe place of our loving master’s arms. When we develop a relationship with those that are not a part of the church or not in relationship with Jesus, we invite them to experience Him as we do. What a wonderful privilege to have that kind of influence that can help to save a person from being lost.

We can choose how we want to be involved in the lives of a runner like Chance. We can be apathetic – turn a blind eye and let him make his own choices, we can be tolerant – celebrate his free spirit and applaud his courage to go out on his own, or we can be compassionate – aware that his choices could result in permanent separation from his master and even death. Let us choose to be like Letti – standing beside our master and welcoming them to come back home!

My dear brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20