A Rude Awakening

It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

OVER THE YEARS Jan and Paul’s dogs had acquired quite a rap sheet with the local police department. The black Labs, Jack and Piper, loved escaping the confines of their fenced-in yard—only to run straight to the police station less than a mile away and turn themselves in.

The Labs’ escapades were the topic of many conversations—and quite a few laughs—among Jan and Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues.

But sadly, just a few years after his first run-in with local law enforcement, Jack passed away.

And as if desperate to find her best friend, Piper became obsessed with escaping.

Piper had always had a talent for finding any and all weak spots along the fence line, but after losing Jack she became single-minded in searching for other ways to get through the wooden barrier.

Piper would find some loose slats and push herself through or shimmy her body through a small gap in the gate.

Keeping an eye on Piper had become a constant battle.

One morning, several months after losing Jack, Jan got up before sunrise to attend an early-morning Bible study. Not wanting to disturb her husband or Piper, who was sleeping in the hallway just outside their room, Jan quietly snuck out of the house, locking the front door of their hundred-year-old farmhouse behind her.

Unbeknownst to Jan, Piper decided to follow. Maybe she wanted to go with Jan, search for Jack, or just enjoy the sunrise. That morning, Piper added another trick to her skill set: pawing at the handle on the front door until the lock disengaged, and the door popped open. At least, that’s what Jan and Paul would surmise.

Not long after Jan left for Bible study, a neighbor called the police, concerned that Jan and Paul’s front door was wide open and their dog was wandering around the front yard.

Two police officers arrived quickly and found everything as the neighbor described.

The officers cautiously entered the house with Piper following close behind.

The officers searched the house and eventually came to Jan and Paul’s bedroom—where Paul was still sound asleep!

“Sir? Sir!” shouted the officer standing closest to Paul. He shined his flashlight in Paul’s eyes. “Sir! Are you okay?”

Paul sat straight up in bed, startled awake. He tried to make sense of the scene before him.

Why are the police in my room?

Where is Jan?

Why are they asking if I’m okay?

So many questions.

And one very affectionate dog licking the officer’s hand.

Piper. Of course.

After assuring the officers he was fine, Paul quickly grabbed his robe and saw the officers to the door.

An hour later Jan returned home.

“Janis!” she heard Paul bellow as she walked in the door. “You left the front door ajar. You are never going to believe what your dog did!”

Jan protested her innocence. “What did Piper do this time?”

As Paul recounted his early-morning police welfare check and wake-up call, Jan could barely keep from laughing.

After hearing the story, Jan got ready for work, and on her way out, she made sure the door was securely closed behind her. She hadn’t been at the office long before the phone rang. It was Paul.

“Piper escaped again—on her own. I’m sorry I blamed you. We’ll both need to take extra measures.”

From that day on, Jan and Paul made sure the front door was closed and bolted when they left the house, much to Piper’s dismay.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Have you ever made a poor choice because of a hasty decision? What was the result? Can you think of a current example of someone exhibiting zeal without knowledge? How might haste cause problems for yourself and others? How can you guard against making hasty decisions?

Paws & Pray

Lord, help me to think before I act. Direct my thoughts to you—who you are, what you have done, and what you would have me do. Help me pause to pray, consult your Word, and seek counsel from others so that I do not act rashly and regret it later.