Dog-walking and Prayer

We have a new family member – his name is Dash.  I know I’m biased, but he’s a beautiful dog.  And very clever – his dad was a pure-bred kelpie and his mum a pure-bred collie.  He joined us in February during the snap Victorian COVID-19 lockdown; he's now five months old.

Dash loves his walks and runs around the oval.  He can cover the half-back to half-forward flank of a football field faster than any human I know.  And he chases and retrieves tennis balls like a champion.  

Because he’s young, and impetuous, I must admit to being a little stressed recently as we have gone down to the off-leash area at the local oval together.  Will he behave? Will he nip me or someone else?  What if today’s the day he decides to keep running?  But we are discovering that strict training is building good habits. 

Which brings me to a good habit of mine that Dash has interrupted lately.  One of my habits is to pray in the morning, over breakfast, and to pray while going on long walks.  Rhythm and routine work for me.  Yesterday, I resolved to be very intentional and get back into this rhythm and routine. 

Part of my prayer routine involves being aware of global, national and local issues and praying for people and leaders, as well as Christians and their churches, across the world.  I have to admit I often don’t know where to start praying.  But yesterday God gave me two prompts – which I’d love to share with you. 

First, India, in the midst of a terrifying surge in COVID-19 cases. I discovered that you can, as part of our local COVID-19 vaccination approach, pay forward (through OM Australia) to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations in the country of India.  At this point, I resolved to commit my contribution to God’s glory and trust in his ability to work in a calamity where I cannot conceive of any solution. 

Second, Myanmar.  When I asked a good friend about his work with one of the Karen Christian congregations in Melbourne, this is what he sent me:

100 days have passed since democracy ended in Myanmar 

In that 100 days their leaders were locked away 

The internet was taken down and Myanmar went dark.

But the people refuse to be silenced 

In their tens of thousands they have taken to the streets 

They have endured the bullets and the beatings 

The artillery shells and the air strikes 

The human rights abuses, and the injustices.

The displaced number in the tens of thousands 

Without shelter, food or safe drinking water 

The bombs keep dropping and the wet season is approaching.

Sharing Hope exists to respond quickly to requests for aid. 

Each donation will go towards our emergency fund, designed to address these needs:  food, shelter, supplies. 

All our projects are requested and managed by Karen community members, overseen by our Karen border team. They know the needs: we have the resources.

Together we are Sharing Hope. 

Yesterday, as I talked with God while I walked the dog, I learned a few things. I’m thankful for family and friends who share things with me. But, mostly for what this sharing has taught me: 

Pray Big. 

Act Big. 

Get in a Rhythm. 

Stay in the Rhythm. 

Our God is So Big. 

In Him we trust. 

In Him we have our hope and our sense of being.