“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1Sam. 16:7)
He was intimidating. His 75 lb. sturdy frame stood poised at the front of the kennel. He was the epitome of strength and power and his very presence was unwelcome and banned from countless cities and counties across the country. His jaws, capable of crushing a man’s arm, hung open in a wide-mouth pant. He was a Pit Bull recently rescued from a dog fighting ring and his new name was Happy. I’m not sure what Happy’s fighting background was but I determined from his soft brown eyes and calm demeanor that fortunately for him, he probably wasn’t very good at it. Happy had successfully passed all of his temperament tests at the animal shelter with flying colors. The shelter staff could scratch his ears, poke their fingers into his mouth, wrap their arms around him and the only danger they faced was a face full of dog saliva. They could even bend down and join him in devouring a bowl of kibble if they were so inclined. He was a joy to be around and in time, became the favorite of all the volunteer dog walkers at the rescue center.
The public, however, saw the gaping jaw and squared head and hurried past Happy’s kennel. They warned their children not to stand too close to his cage, not to look at him and definitely, do not try to give him a treat from the small metal bowl filled with dog biscuits that was attached to the outside of his kennel. Happy barked and whined as he watched all the other dogs happily devouring biscuits offered from tiny, sticky fingers up and down the aisle. Staff and volunteers at the shelter began to worry about Happy. Some dogs that spend weeks and weeks at a shelter begin to spiral downhill psychologically so a decision was made to put Happy to work by including him in the shelter’s public obedience classes. Happy thoroughly enjoyed his once a week furlough. He learned to sit, come, heel, and walk calmly on a leash. He was a quick learner and attentive student as Pit Bulls tend to be, and he quickly moved through class, eventually even passing the Canine Good Citizen test. Despite the large plaque displaying his Canine Good Citizen diploma and the glowing remarks concerning Happy’s friendly and obedient nature from multiple staff and volunteers, the public continued to pass Happy by.
Happy watched as dog after dog left the shelter. People fell in love with the beagles and lab mixes and other seemingly “friendlier” breeds. These dogs got to go home to a bed, their own food bowl and warm lap every night. Happy however, was continually avoided because man, and woman, continued to, “...look on his appearance...” and “...the height of his stature”.
When we choose a friend, a mate, or a leader, we often look at the outward appearance. Who has God chosen to be his messengers? Who did God choose to lead and orchestrate his good and perfect will among men? David was the youngest boy, barely grown, in a family of strong, capable men. Moses was old, feeble, and by his own admission was "...not eloquent...slow of speech and of tongue". Mary was a 14 year-old peasant girl from a humble home. Is it so difficult then, for us to believe that a hero, a leader, or an earthly comforter could perhaps come in the form of a four-legged fur ball? Inside the heart of your neighbors toy poodle could lie the strength of a lion. Or in your German Shepherd, the warmth and compassion of Mother Theresa. God chooses the unremarkable. He elects the ordinary to do the extraordinary.
What we see isn’t always the truth. Eyes lie. We are often taken aback by the cruel actions of someone who “looked so nice”. We’re enamored and awed by athletes whose moral character shocks and disappoints us. We gravitate to the strong, thin, handsome or beautiful...someone who looks more capable than ourselves. Thankfully, God chooses us based on the condition of our hearts. God knew the tender, gentle heart that Happy possessed. After all, He created it. Dogs seem to get this. It’s the reason the smallest Pomeranian will playfully romp and nip at the largest Great Dane. Dogs are not constrained by the limitations of sight and perception but possess an amazing capacity for innate understanding and acceptance not for the way things appear but the way things are. They live out Isaiah 11:3 which states, “...and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;”
Happy was fortunate to be surrounded by dog lovers who could look past Happy’s external image and see the loving, strong, capable dog that God had created Happy to be. Happy did find his forever home with a loving family who was willing to give Happy a chance. What Happy gives in return is a grateful heart and a wide gaping jaw full of sloppy, wet kisses.
