Being Human Like a Dog

I've been taking a course in Doctrines of Reconciliation (big fancy words for "how does Jesus' death on the cross work to save people") and as part of that course have been reading The Cross in Our Context by Douglas John Hall that takes a different perspective on how salvation works. One part of one chapter, however, speaks about what being saved looks like here on earth in this life, and Hall suggests that it is humans living into being human (as opposed to trying to be God). Right from the garden of Eden, the story of the fall suggests that Adam and Eve were tempted to know good from evil as God knows good from evil and hence placing humanity as being closer to being equal with God. The North American context seems to constantly be seeking after more in a constant search perhaps to become more God-ly.

As I read all about this in Hall's book I couldn't help thinking about Cesar (the Dog Whisperer) who Josh and I once in a while watch on TV. He often talks about how dog's are working to be in control of the household, and how if the dog is taught to let the humans be the humans and be in control then the dog is able to relax and just be a dog and enjoy life. Watching the change in dogs as they relinquish their quest to be what they were not created to be is quite something.... imagine what it would look like if we abandoned trying to be God and instead lived into being human as God has created us to be? Something to ponder.