The Lowe-Down

As a dog lover, I was very pleased to discover the ABC TV show ‘Muster Dogs’ and I am very excited that a second series is about to be released. If you haven’t encountered it, the premise is simple enough. “Spanning the red earth of the Top End to the green pastures of regional Victoria, this new four-part documentary series follows five Kelpie puppies from the same litter on their journey to become muster dogs.” Watching well-trained muster dogs at work is a delight in and of itself, but the real heart of the show is the developing relationships between each dog and its’ trainer. Being somewhat late to the party I have only watched two of the four episodes, but I have already been struck by the similarities between training a muster dog, raising a child and our relationship with God.

This is what I have learnt about muster dogs. As young puppies, muster dogs must learn two things – how to survive and how to work. Trainers are always on the lookout for potential hazards, whether that be flying hooves, farm machinery or marauding snakes. At the same time, puppies (even those from the best breeding stock) will continually push boundaries and test the patience of their long-suffering owners. The trainer must work very hard to find a balance between disciplining the dog while not being so overbearing as to squash the dog’s personality. The most important thing in all this is the relationship and connection that develops between dog and trainer. The stronger that relationship, the better the outcome.

While humans are far more complex than dogs, it isn’t hard to see the similarities in the roles of trainers, parents, and teachers when it comes to raising young people. Just like a puppy, young children are vulnerable to many dangers in life and need to be protected until they are old enough to fend for themselves. This is a gradual process and even adolescents are still prone to making choices that could have serious consequences. Just like an unruly puppy, young people will push boundaries as they try to find their place in the world and assert their independence. As parents and educators, we find ourselves constantly seeking to strike the right balance between allowing young people the freedom to be themselves while still drawing boundaries and exercising discipline when required. And the key to success is in the quality of the relationship that is forged between the young person and the parent or teacher. If there is no respect or trust in the relationship, trouble is bound to ensue.

So, what does this have to do with our relationship with God? Farming metaphors abound in the Bible and most of us would be familiar with the description of God as the good shepherd. My struggle with that image is that we always end up being compared to the sheep, which feels somewhat disappointing. I don’t know if dogs were used to manage stock in quite the same way in the ancient far-east but if God is the good shepherd (or good stock handler), I’d like to think of myself as more of a muster dog than a sheep. And if I’m being honest, I am probably more like a muster dog pup than a fully trained working dog when it comes to my relationship with God. Firstly, events like global pandemics remind me just how vulnerable and helpless I am in the face of much that the world throws at me. That is not to say that I am totally without agency, but it is a reminder of my need to rely on God’s providence and grace. Secondly, I am not much different to an adolescent pup when it comes to pushing boundaries with God. It is easy to shake my head in disbelief at the constant cycles of obedience and disobedience exhibited by the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament, but I suspect the pattern of my life probably looks rather similar.

The best dog trainers are calm, compassionate, firm, and fair as they work with their pups. They work hard with them and expect obedience, but they also prioritize plenty of time to play or simply keep company with their dogs. The relationship is key, and the good trainer is always ready to invest in it. In the book of Exodus, we find this promise from God to Moses, “I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted.” (Exodus 34:6). God is patient, compassionate and fair when dealing with our rebellious faith and His greatest desire is simply to be with us and for us to be with Him in every moment of our day.

God is a good shepherd, stock handler and dog trainer and this little pup for one is very thankful to be in such safe hands. May you know the reassurance that comes with a relationship with the good stock handler!