Everyone Gets Bit

Everyone Gets Bit

When I began dog training every trainer that I rode along with told me a story of a time when they got bit, and as I recall all of them at one time said, “everyone gets bit”. There was an unsettling feeling that came with that statement, but like biblical prophecy the fateful day came while training a Weimaraner, it was quick, unexpected and fortunately not too bad.

This thought of getting bit came into a more serious light when I went to a memorial service for a friend of ours sister who lost her battle with cancer. As the service began I was drawn in with a video presentation which displayed pictures throughout her life. What caught my attention were the pictures from the past that showed our friend with her sister when they were young girls. In the pictures they were smiling, innocent, having fun and free of the cares and weights of this world, (as it should be with children). Then I noticed as the pictures continued that there were years missing, no pictures, no smiles. I was aware of this most likely because I know a little of my friends past, which she shared about briefly during the memorial service and I bring it up to make this point, life can be a lot like dog training in this way… everyone gets bit.
We may get bit by a bad relationship or bad health, sudden loss of a job, lapse of judgment, kids who go astray, there are a million things that can happen, but eventually every persons photo history changes from innocence to heartbreak some where along the journey. That thought was even more unsettling than the one I had with the trainers earlier.
As my friend spoke about her troubled years, she then spoke of how those troubled years were turned around as she realized her need for spiritual care and turned to Jesus for that care. Her story like the pictures in the presentation made another turn, a reappearance, a resurrection if you will, where life was bought back and so too the smile.
I for years had been bit, but ignored the wounds of my soul, I know even now that if there were to be a video presentation in memory of my life, I too would have a blank spot, a black hole where there was no light to be found, but as with my friend so also with me there has been a resurrection of life, where I was treated for my spiritual cancer and wounds.
I think most of us are able to grope our way back towards the light, for some the journey is quick and seemingly painless, for others it seems that even though the light may be seen health is never found. I believe however there is help and hope available to everyone, but we all first must realize our need. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” And that He did not come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners (Matt 9:12,13). I think this is such an incredible revelation that can free and heal us all and what I love about this statement is how it fits so perfectly into the video of our lives, because at some point in this journey we are going to need a physician, because you see,

...everyone gets bit.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:6)