Leap Without Restraint by Charles Smith, Associate Pastor, Student Ministry

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith… And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10; 12

Growing up, my family would make a trip every year to my aunt’s house in southern Indiana. And it was…fine. Our return, however, was always much more exhilarating. Immediately upon our arrival, we’d fall victim to a full-frontal attack. You see, we had a dog named Joe Montana, or Monty for short. Yes, we did get him in 1993. Monty hated being away from us. Each year, in his excitement at our return, he would race to greet us, jumping and slobbering, often knocking us over in his joy.

One particular year, I was the first one through the door, as I had shirked my present-carrying duty and rushed inside. In my haste, I forgot about Monty’s annual ambush. As I opened the door, I heard the sound of nails clicking rapidly on the hardwood floors and looked up to see a tornado of fur and paws and tongue hurtling towards me. I immediately turned and bolted. Unfortunately, Monty couldn’t change direction in time and careened into our fully decked-out Christmas tree.

The tree stood no chance. With a flurry and a crash, everything came toppling down. It was a disaster. But despite the pandemonium, as Monty gained his footing and leaped at me, I felt his enthusiastic delight, his outpouring of love that he desperately wanted me to experience. When I read this passage from 1 Thessalonians, the writer’s words remind me of Monty’s expression of immeasurable elation as he literally bounded toward me with abounding love.

Christmas can be a frenzied time. It can sometimes feel like a toppling tree just waiting to collapse. Yet, amidst the chaos, God shows ever-increasing love for us as we meet face to face. In this season, may we joyously leap without restraint, bounding into God’s abounding love with full abandon, and share in the beauty of this powerful and empowering love that can only come from God (and dogs).

CHARLES SMITH

ASSOCIATE PASTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY