Life is Like...a Dog Sport?

Have you ever watched a canine agility trial? If you are unfamiliar with the sport, please promise me that after you have read this blog, you will search for it on YouTube. Go do that and come back, but you will likely get lost watching run after run, so stay here for now, and I'll do my best to explain. See, my dog, Bits, and I used to play agility. She'd get so excited when I put on running pants and tell her we would play “'gillies”! We retired due to arthritis (in both of us!) and Bits has since passed away, so indulge me in some reminiscing.

Bits was a very headstrong, my-way-or-the-highway kind of dog. More like my-way-or-my-teeth in her case; but I digress. We actually started learning the game as a way to channel her energy and to show her that I could truly be the leader in our relationship.

An agility course is a lot like life. It's a series of obstacles that are approached one by one. There are hurdles to clear, hoops to jump through, a-frames to climb, tunnels to thread through, poles to weave around, teeters that totter, and beams to be balanced upon. There is even a “pause table” where one is just to lie down and wait until told to go again. The goal is to get from start to finish as quickly as possible, sequentially conquering each piece of equipment. Are you starting to relate? Time spent “on the flat” between obstacles is short, and there is no place to relax; it's best used getting lined up for the next challenge.

Like humans facing life, dogs don't run agility courses alone; they have a handler running beside them, usually their owner. The person who knows and loves them best is on the course with them, giving instructions all along the way.  They also spend significant time in class with others, learning to navigate the obstacles. The dogs learn to listen to spoken commands and watch for physical cues that signal what the handler wants them to do. Then, they spend more time at home working one-on-one- dog and handler together- fine-tuning their relationship to become a team truly.

Of course, it doesn't always go right. Bits and I have our share of blooper reels! (Many of the mistakes were mine, but for this blog, we'll focus on the bloopers she caused.) She would get frustrated if she didn't understand, which would sometimes result in “the zoomies. " When Bits had the zoomies, she would run full speed around the course with no regard for where I was or where the obstacles were.  She often plowed through a hurdle, knocking it over, or had to jump over a tunnel that suddenly appeared in front of her. I could call her name until my face turned blue, but it wouldn't matter. She would run until the frustration dissipated and she could think clearly again.

Sometimes, Bits would disregard what she did understand and go “off course,” taking an obstacle that was not the one we were supposed to go to next. This was usually because it was lined up where the next challenge logically seemed to be or because a different obstacle was more appealing (most often a tunnel, as those were her favorites). She'd take the obstacle correctly and look good doing it, but it wasn't what she was supposed to be doing.

Then there are “refusals. " In agility, a refusal is essentially what you would expect. I'd ask Bits to take an obstacle, but she simply wouldn't.  She would refuse to lie still on the pause table. (She had a course to run and wanted to get on with it!) However, at other times, she would come to a complete stop before the next move, sniffing around the equipment. Something else caught her attention in those instances and distracted her from me. Sometimes, she'd run past what I wanted her to do. Perhaps it was an obstacle she liked less or her focus was directed elsewhere. She may have noticed that we were nearing the end of the course and wanted to reach the toy and treat portion!

You see, agility isn't just about overcoming challenges. At the end of each run, the handler and the dog enjoy what we call a “party. " Regardless of whether the run was “clean” or not, everyone claps! The dog gets to tug on a favorite toy and receive some treats. Some people will scoop their dog up in an embrace as it jumps into their arms. My trainer taught me the importance of being gracious with Bits and recognizing that she was doing her best out there. I would reward her effort, keep it fun for both of us, and ensure she stayed engaged with me. I knew that the more she was engaged, the better she would perform, both on the course and in everyday life.

I'm sure you've caught some similarities between the sport of canine agility and the life of a Christian. God is the handler, and I am the dog. Let me highlight a few more parallels:

First, I need to put my pigheadedness aside and recognize that I have no business being in charge!

“But God gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, 'God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble'. Submit therefore to God...humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you” James 4: 6, 7a, 10

I must acknowledge that God is with me. The One who understands me best and loves me most desires my success and will guide me.

“Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know, when I sit down and when I rise up. You understand my thoughts from afar.” Ps. 139:1

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”

Isa 30:21

I need to spend time training with others and one-on-one, building a relationship with my Handler, learning His commands and how to recognize His cues.

“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good and deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together...but encouraging one another...” Heb 10:24,25

“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” I Tim. 4:7-8

When I'm frustrated, I need to keep my head up and focus on Christ and my environment's obstacles. Spewing my frustration accomplishes very little if anything.

“Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Jas. 1:19-20

The challenge I see looming may not be what I should focus on now.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matt. 6:34

I can't only take the challenges I know best, no matter how good I look doing them. Sometimes, God is leading me out of my comfort zone. 

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them” Isa. 42:16a

Sometimes, I need to pause and rest.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures” Ps. 23:2

No matter how good or interesting something looks or smells, I must disregard distractions and stay focused on the task!

“… forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13-14

The party is coming! In His grace, God gives me breaks between challenges. He sends me encouragement and reminds me to stay engaged with Him in times of trial and comfort.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” II Thes. 16-17

Watch those videos! Many focus solely on the dog because it’s incredible to witness their work but remember that the dog isn't out there alone. (“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” II Cor. 3:5). Look for moments you can see the handler. Observe the subtle communication and connection and how they operate as a team. Enjoy the “party” at the end.

Ultimately, God will catch us as we jump into His loving arms!

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” I Thes. 4:17