The quote below was from two posts on this date in 2009. I am occasionally surprised by how often certain experiences are repeated in my life…… Almost the same feelings accompanied me last night as I drove wearily into my driveway. I had spent much of the afternoon with someone in significant need of support, encouragement, and advocacy. i feel so inadequate to the task at times, but I know God has put such situations before me to carry out His will in the life of another who is simply not up to the task alone, at least for now. At least this time it wasn’t having to go to the governor’s office….. just having some conversations with service providers making it clear, politely but firmly, that we would not be dissuaded or turned aside. The right thing would be done……. and now it will be.
11/16/2009
“It is sad that some people have such seemingly overwhelming circumstances against them. I am grateful to know that God is a strong arm for those who have no one else on their side.
I drug through the day….spent most of it in the car taking a student to an appointment in Alabama. I can at least report satisfaction in the issue that had to go to the governor’s office, however! Papers expected to be ready to be signed Wednesday. Sometimes you just have to bark louder and show some teeth. Yes!!!”
I know the usual image for ministry is that of being an under-shepherd of Christ. But I have felt, at times, more like a sheepdog than a shepherd, not warm and fuzzy and smart, attuned to the direction of the Master’s voice, but rather a teeth-showing, bristling, gutterally snarling, verge of attack mode posture required to put the enemy on notice that he will not easily prey on the Master’s flock……
Laura has a new guard dog at Living WTers Bridge Ranch named Rosco (Rosco Bosco!) He’s a mature hound of some size. His job is to protect the goats, several of which had been attacked by predators from adjacent woods recently. His presence in their company is a deterrent to predators and I feel a twinge of ache for him when I go over to speak to him. He is so desirous of the company of human guests, it appears, since he spends all his time in the company of the well protected and often defenseless goats and one demanding sheep named Archie. That in itself, while demonstrating his competence and his master’s trust, can be a marginalizing existence. I’d love to see Rosco running loose or leashed to a generous long run line out among the humans who are serving and enjoying their time at the ranch. Alas, each animal on the farm has its place and purpose, appropriate to the need. Unlike the usually lovely peacock who struts around free and perches for his own glory and the delight of others,(and who has recently molted all his beautiful tail feathers and looks considerably less vain-glorious!), Rosco hangs with the goats and Archie day and night……. and especially in the dark of night when he is a vital asset to the safety of his charges and to his master’s peace of mind.
There was a day a couple of years ago when my usual formula for a particular “handle” changed from the one I had used since my first engagement with the internet. It suddenly changed from CBByrd to Godsgal. It was just a sudden impulse arising from somewhere deep in my innermost being. It made me smile to think of being one of His “gals.”. Yesterday I was thinking about a dear friend who had died almost a year ago. One of her great joys in life was the years she had served as a volunteer guardian ad litem for youth in state dependency care under the charge and authority of a judge in our community. A guardian ad litem (“GAL”) is an attorney or attorney representative appointed by the court to investigate a case and report its findings and recommendations to the court. The investigation, report, and recommendations are based upon the best interests of the child.
My friend had many heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories of her engagement on behalf of children and her role in the court, and the joy of seeing some of them grow up happy and successful. She said that all the suffering she had known in life ( and it was considerable) had prepared her for those eleven years… to be able to bring personal experience of survival and knowledge of God’s presence with her, always in her “court”, through it all that had made her able to bring hope to some children in difficult circumstances. All of a sudden I had a thought that sobered me. God seemed to say in my spirit, “You’re not ‘one of the gals’………. You’re My G.A.L. ( guardian ad litem).” And in that moment I realized the impact of my friendship and the purpose for God having brought us together. She taught me so much not only about listening to those without a voice, but about advocacy for the defenseless, and kindness and hope and even living with heartbreak. But she also affirmed in my spirit the absolute trust one can have in God to always have the back of His GALs and voiceless “orphan hearts” they are charged to protect.
I am so very grateful that Jesus Christ is my guardian ad litem in the court of the Almighty……