"Least of These" as Lifestyle

We're nearly two weeks into our attempt to make a pet out of Charlie, the seven year old Golden Retriever mix who we have on a foster-to-adopt basis.

So far, it's uncertain if this experiment will succeed.

Charlie has been abused and, as far as we can tell, lived in two shelters for more than a year total without anyone adopting him.

When we met him and appeared to be interested, the guy from the shelter showing him to us offered to let us foster him for a month. We didn't know, to that point, that fostering would be an option.

The shelter gave us a month's supply of food and free veterinary care for a month and, later, offered us a crate for free.

And, as we were preparing to drive him home, employees and volunteers of the shelter came out of the woodwork to thank us for giving Charlie a chance. My guess is that Charlie was starting to get close to being put down because he was considered unadoptable.

He was/is shy and skittish.

His veterinary records make it clear that he was seriously abused before he was taken into the first shelter...and, apparently, by a man or men...because he is a lovable dog around women but fearful, even sometimes aggressive, toward men.

Evie and Charlie immediately bonded. Charlie and I are making progress, though there are still moments when he growls, even snaps, at me.

And, there's a young man who rents part of our condo and Charlie and he still have a long way to go and it is by no means certain that their relationship will be a success.

And, Charlie can be even worse with other men.

Evie and I had our first serious chat this morning about sending Charlie back to the shelter. Doing so will be tough because it's reasonable to suspect that he'll never get another chance if he doesn't succeed with us.

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I've been thinking in big picture, philosophical terms about what all of this means.

I've concluded that our experiment with Charlie:

1. Fits a pattern long established in our lives, and
2. The pattern is fruit of our understanding of what it means to walk in the Way of Jesus.

Jesus teaches that, in the end, it will be what people do among the "least of these" that will determine how we spend eternity.

And, certainly, we are intentional about stuff like, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..."

I've just realized that the Charlie thing fits a pattern, with Evie especially, where the best available choice...in all of life...is the one where showing mercy as much as possible is the preferred option.

It's become her way...OUR way...to seek out the least of these as a general rule, no matter what the context.

It's hard work.

It's exhausting.

And, honestly, it almost never succeeds.

It's almost always gruelling and painful and frustrating. It almost always fails and usually breaks your heart...

...but it is exactly what Jesus did.

What we're attempting with Charlie we've attempted, in one way or another, with dozens of people over our years together.

In those efforts, there is a profound sense of connection to Jesus. And, there is understanding of His prayer on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing," which He prayed as people were mocking Him.

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As is so often the case, success in these "least of these" adventures is a matter of walking in His steps, not in the real-life achievement.

We may very well, take Charlie back to the shelter in the end. If that happens, it may be more difficult than putting a dog down. We are, very probably, Charlie's last chance and he really is doing the best he can to live in the world.

The odds are against him. He's an innocent victim of life in this fallen world. We're doing our best for him...and our best may not be good enough.

But, we've had to admit failure with "least of these" human beings in the past.

Now, THAT is heartbreaking.