My dog ran away a lot...

When I was a young boy, I had a dog that ran away a lot. I can't really say that I blamed him. His name was Scruffy, and I was a bad dog owner. I didn't walk him, I kept him on a chain in the back yard, I whined when I was told to feed him, blah blah blah. Elementary school children learn responsibility in very odd ways.

When Scruffy ran away, it like he was running for sweet freedom. Seriously, you would have thought he was a POW that finally caught a break. I couldn't catch him. I don't even know why/how he "got loose." He always seemed to break free around the first day of school, oddly enough (lol).

It always irked me that he ran so hard once he was free. But then again, why wouldn't he? I was a horrible care giver. My mom pretty much cared more about Scruffy than me. She just MADE me do the right things and take responsibility. She would always say the same things to me: "He will stop running if you stop chasing him. And if you actually let him go, he may come back on his own." And he did...Scruffy always came back. He didn't come back because of me, though. I am convinced of that. Honestly, I still can't figure out why he would come back.

Responsibility is funny. Not in a lol kind of way, either. When it is forced on you, you're frustrated all the time and disdain the pressure (like me and Scruffy). When you take it willfully, like in a job, you are consistently trying to relieve the pressure by owning your role. There is a lot to be said about actually owning responsibility, especially when it comes to following Jesus, and in leading others on the same path.

I think that, as the church of Jesus, we have a tremendous responsibility: to own our roles as followers of Jesus in a way that leads those around us into a deeper connection to Him. Whether we sing, teach, serve, or smile...we are compelled to do so in a way that draws attention to Jesus. Think about that. If we actually do that, we may think that it is important that we value and prioritize, and, dare I say, lead with our actions when it comes to our actions as a Christ follower (some people would call this ministry).

We should at least conduct ourselves in a manner where other people will not want to ever "run far far away." I think love may play a factor here.

^15-17Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Colossians 3:17, The Message)