Life is a Buffet

I shook my head and made my turn, passing them as I went on my way.  Suddenly, I started crying and something spoke to me to go back and help that defenseless animal.  It didn't make a lot of sense to me because the man was about 6'5" and was very muscular.  He had a bandana tied around his head and a cut off sweat shirt that was covered in sweat.  I knew this man could pick me up and throw me like a helpless child; still I knew I had to go back.  I didn't bother to explain to my mother why I was turning around; I just did it. 

As I pulled into the parking lot of a store, I saw the dog collapse in the middle of the street.  The man kicked the dog and then grabbed him around his neck and lifted him off the ground.  The dog's body was limp.  Something rose up in me and all fear left me.  Now it never dawned on me to use my cell phone to dial 911.  Instead I just leaped out of the car and confronted the huge man.  "Sir," I said with authority.  "Where are you going with that dog?"  He just stopped and glared at me like I was crazy.  "I'm taking this dog for a walk," he said and then started on his way again, dragging the staggering dog behind him.  "Sir," I said again, stepping in front of him.  "This dog is getting ready to collapse from heat exhaustion."  The man stopped again.  I'm sure he was thinking, "Where did this crazy lady come from?"  He stood there in the heat staring at me.  Then he started walking again.  "Sir, if you don't stop I'm going to follow you down the street and phone the police."  He stopped once more and turned around to face me.  Sweat was dropping from his face and the dog took this opportunity to lie down and rest.  "Ma'am this dog is okay.  I'm taking her back to her owner."  "So the dog isn't yours?" I asked.  "No, I'm walking her for a friend," he answered.  I stepped over to my car and opened the back door.  "Sir, if you'll pick up the dog and put her in my car I'll take her to the vet and pay the bill.  Just put the dog in my car, now sir!"  The man again stared at me like he could not believe that he was seeing this little lady in front of him giving him orders.  I couldn't believe it either. 

Finally, the man reached down, picked the dog up and placed her in my backseat.  Now my mom looks back and sees this huge man putting this limp dog in my car.  She looked horrified.  "Polly, what in the world are you doing?" she asked.  "Is that man getting in our car?"  "No, Mom, don't worry," I said.  "He's not getting in the car."  Mom still looked worried.  "Well, then why his he putting that dead dog in our car?" she asked.  "She's not dead, Mom," I answered, trying to keep her calm and watch the man at the same time.  "The dog just needs some help." 

The man stepped back and I slammed the door shut.  "I'm going to take her to the vet," I said to him.  "Then I have to come too," he said.  "Since the dog belongs to my friend."  I  made my voice as firm as I possibly could and said, "No sir, I can't let you in my car.  You go and tell your friend that the dog was taken to a vet."  The man stepped back away from the car and just stood there.  He could have picked me up and broken me into little pieces, but he seemed subdued somehow. 

Just as I was getting ready to get in the car and drive away, people started pouring out of stores and coming over to the car.  Apparently, they had been watching the whole thing unfold and now felt safe enough to come over and see the dog.  People were opening up my backdoor and pouring cold water over the dog and all over my seat.  The dog seemed despondent and her tongue was flat and hanging out of her mouth.  I got back out of the car to encourage people not to totally trash my car.  Of course the dog was slobbering and drooling all over the place so it was a little late for that.  I looked over to see if the man was still there and he was still standing there, watching everything unfold. 

Someone had called animal control and they finally arrived, much to my relief.  It was a woman, but at least she was wearing a gun and had a big stick strapped to her side.  While I was standing back a man walked up behind me and whispered, "Don't let that man leave.  That's animal cruelty.  He needs to be arrested."  When I turned around he was walking away.  "Nice," I said to myself.  "He leaves me to do the dirty work."  I explained to Animal Control what happened and she made a call to the police.  Another lady walked up with tears in her eyes and said she had been walking behind the man with the dog and calling the police on her cell phone, but no one came out.    She had also approached the man, but she said he told her to mind her own business.  She was a petite lady, so naturally she was hesitant to confront the man any further.  She was so happy that the dog was finally getting some help.

While we were waiting for the police to arrive the man just kept looking at me like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.  I walked over to him and got right in his face, "Why is it that a big strong man like you has nothing better to do but drag a helpless old dog through the streets in the middle of the day?"  He stared back at me as though he was pondering what I said.  By then the police arrived and took the man away.  The Animal Control Officer took the dog away to the vet and Mom and I drove home as well. 

Early the next morning the Animal Control Officer was knocking on my door.  I invited her in and she proceeded to tell me the dog was responding very well to treatment, but the vet said she would have definitely died had she not gotten help when she did.  I was relieved to hear she was going to be okay.  It turns out the dog was 14 years old and she was stolen from her owner's yard.  The man was using the dog to do some panhandling down at the beach.  But then the Animal Control Officer told me something that really shook me up.  When they did a check on this man at the police station they found he had been previously charged with Assault and Battery, Sexual Assault, and Attempted Murder.  The Officer told me if I had left the scene when she arrived she wouldn't have stayed either.  I was surprised since she was at least carrying a gun.  "We were both very fortunate I'd say," she told me. 

I agreed with the Officer, but realized that there had been something more at work there that day than just courage.  I believe God gave me protection and the authority to confront the menacing looking man.  As I said, he had no reason to listen to me since he was twice my size and strong as an ox.  He didn't pay any attention to the other lady that confronted him.  God's hand was definitely on that situation.  When I look back on it I still can't believe what I did.  Yet I can also see how God gave me the authority I needed to confront him.  I'm not saying you should jump out at every dangerous situation and just expect God to take care of you.  Obviously you need to use wisdom and lots of common sense.  However, I do believe God gives us the authority we need to step out and confront the enemy in whatever form.  Luke 9:1 says, "Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases."  It doesn't say some of the demons, but all demons.

Too many times as Christians we act like the enemy has the upper hand over us.  We say things like, "Oh, I'm not doing so well because the enemy has been attacking me all week."  We give more credit to the enemy than we do to God's authority in our life.  He may attack you, but you have the authority to fight back.  The problem is we act like we have to take the punches.  Being a Christian doesn't mean you will never have to confront the enemy.  You have been given God's authority to deal with the enemy in whatever form he comes at you.  Don't be afraid to stand up to him and deal him some powerful blows right back.  If you give in, the enemy just gets a stronger foothold in your life.  When life whacks you, whack it back.  It's not a battle if you don't fight back, it's just surrender.  He's given you the armor, the power, the authority and the promise.  The only surrendering you need to do is to throw your hands up toward heaven and ask for faith to use the weapons God has given you.  Then throw your arms out in front of you and do battle with the enemy.  Here's a tip:  You'll win every time. 

Oh yeah.  The man was tried and given 12 months jail time with 6 months suspended.  He appealed, but when he found out the judge that would be hearing his case had a Lab Retriever that stayed in his chambers all day, he dropped the appeal.  That is so like God, isn't it?