Free will is one of the most hotly debated topics in philosophy. Being the nerd that I am, I have read a decent amount of that philosophy and found the arguments for free will to be lacking. However, as Shakespeare so beautifully wrote, “there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Thus, I’ll leave the philosophical arguments for those who can handily outnerd me. You’re not here to read about philosophy. You’re here for a thoughtful blog post on faith, and to enjoy photos of my dog.
Speaking of the dog…Walking to Wisdom
Our family recently adopted a dog, an 11 month old bully mix named Fenny (short for Fenrir, a Norse mythological beast). One night, I took Fenny on a walk to clear my mind. I had a few important decisions coming up and I needed guidance. I figured the chirp of the crickets, the cool late summer night air, and the starry sky would be good for my soul. Yet, that night, the walk itself ended up being the guidance I was looking for.
Usually, I pick where we walk and how far. Fenny is a very skittish dog who is easily startled by just about everything. She once got stuck between a sewer drain and an electric box and feared for her life. Living near BWI airport doesn’t help. Despite her anxiety, she is also a high energy dog in desperate need of exercise, so I try to extend the twice daily walks to about a mile, despite her resistance to being anywhere but home.
That night though, I wasn’t concerned with making the 1 mile goal. I just wanted to stretch my legs and clear my mind–a walking meditation of sorts, and I thought the dog might enjoy going along. There were a few parameters of course:
- We would only walk on well-lit streets.
- I was only willing to walk a mile max (this was our third walk that day).
- I wouldn’t let her do anything dangerous or disrespectful to the neighbors.
- She needed to pee before returning to the house.
One Step at a Time
So, off we went. We took a right, she had a few great sniffs and went down the road about a quarter mile, walking down a street I had never taken her on before. I was enjoying the adventure and not knowing where we would end up. Yes, I had to steer her clear of a yard that had recently been sprayed with pesticides and keep her from eating a frog (I’m partial to frogs staying alive), but otherwise, the walk was hers. I was just along for the ride.
While strolling, my mind was running through the potential options for the question plaguing my mind that day and I asked God directly for guidance. I looked up and saw a STOP sign. I know well enough now that very few things happen by chance alone. The stop sign had always been there, but I rarely took notice of it. I was being told to bring my running thoughts to a still. So, I paused, breathed, and relaxed. Maybe, I realized, I didn’t need to figure the whole thing out right now. Maybe, just like the walk, I could be content with only knowing the step in front of me.
Heading Back Home…
Eventually Fenny decided to cross the street (better sniffing territory?) and turn around. We headed back home. At one point on the way back, she looked up at me, a hint of concern in her eyes–she clearly didn’t know where we were and was a bit worried. Without thinking I said,
“It’s alright, girl. I know where we’re going.”
My own words struck me. That was it–the key to releasing my stress. Just like Fenny, I was safe. I realized that I didn’t need to know where I was going–God did. And whatever path I was on, God was by my side, leading me back home.
Back to Free Will…
Perhaps this is a pretty good analogy of how free will works for us. There’s a plan for our life and there are some relatively important turning points that are pre-planned. But within those pre-planned events/learning goals in our life, I believe that we are free to move about as we choose. For instance, I felt very “led” to marry my now late husband, but God could care less where we went on our first date (or second, or third for that matter). Similarly, I “knew” I was meant to become a teacher and I occasionally feel “led” to reach out to a particular student in one way or another. Yet my daily lesson plans are up to me.
It’s comforting to know that there’s a plan for the journey, and that the journey ultimately leads us back home. Just as I knew where our road led on the dog walk, God knows the general sketch of my life journey and is there to guide and protect me. That journey is made beautiful in the living, and is much more enjoyable if I can just relax and trust the one who guides me.
And so, perhaps we should be content to follow God’s gentle leading, being mindful of those gentle nudges. Meanwhile, we can relax and enjoy the breeze. God’s got us covered. 🙂
Excellent post!