Basset Hound Theology

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As I was getting dressed early this morning, I heard a scratching at the bedroom door. I knew instinctively that it was Gary, one of our two fine basset hounds. Whenever I get up, no matter how early, Gary knows it because he has finely-tuned hearing under those long, floppy ears. When he hears me shuffling around, he waits patiently for a minute or two, and if I don’t come fast enough, he scratches on the door until I come and let him out. This morning he seemed especially glad to see me, although that is not unusual. Bassets are amazingly social dogs. They want to be where people are–unless other dogs are around and then they want to be with the dogs. But they aren’t loners. When I saw Gary, he jumped up to greet me, which is quite a feat considering his low center of gravity, his short legs, and the awkwardness of it all. He was happy when I scratched under his chin and then let him out. Dudley followed–sleepily, stretching as he sauntered outside.

A few minutes ago I looked down and saw Gary curled up right behind my chair. He will be there until I decide to move. He has strategically placed himself so if I get up, he won’t miss it.

I think again, as I often do, of the loyalty of our basset hounds. If they hear keys jingle, they run to the garage door because they want to go with us. If I say, “Wanna go for a walk?” they get excited and start jumping on me. We didn’t teach them to follow us around. It’s in their basic nature.

A popular worship chorus says, “I just want to be where you are, dwelling daily in your presence.” It ends with these words: “I just want to be (I just want to be), I just want to be (I wanna be) with You.” Though the sentiment is very biblical (it could be found in many of the psalms), I never could connect with it very well. Sometimes my life seems more like this old refrain, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.”

And then I thought about our basset hounds. No one has to tell them, “Spend time with your master.” They do it because they want to. They are so eager to see us. Tomorrow Gary will be scratching at our door again. Who wouldn’t love a dog like that?

Oh, to have that kind of heart, to love my Master the way he loves his.