The wind was not blowing hard, just a steady breeze that picked up the pre-dawn chill and washed it over the whole body.  No matter how many layers of wool one piled on it seemed to find its way past every seam, zipper and buttonhole. The fact that the moon was waning and the sun was not yet even a thought in the sky didn’t help. It seemed as if the stars and the black sky overhead were drawing every scrap of heat from the earth It was one of those “WHY AM I HERE” mornings.

As the john boat slowly slid off the bank it sat on the thin layer of ice for just a moment as if not wanting to enter the frigid water. Then with a loud crack the ice gave way, the boat moved forward and all that could be heard was the scraping of the thin ice against its sides. The moment his rubber boots hit the water the cold shot up his legs like lighting and his toes immediately started to grow numb. As he jumped into the gliding boat he thought about how long one would last in that icy lake.  It wouldn’t take long to sap every bit of heat and energy out of the body. Holding that thought he looked at his partner in the back of the boat … what was he thinking?

He grasped the oars and began that slow and familiar rhythmic motion. He knew the energy he was exerting would begin to warm him in a matter of minutes. His friend, on the other hand, was paying for his free ride as he sat there in the darkness … too cold to move.  Slowly and steadily they moved along the dark shoreline, their journey interrupted only by the mutterings of startled mud hens in the reeds and the slap of wooden oars against the thin ice that was trying to push winter into a reality. He wondered if it was any warmer in there with the mud hens than it was out here.  Probably not, just as cold and a lot darker.

He slowed for a moment to loosen his wool overcoat as he began to perspire. His partner, who had been intently searching the dark horizon, shifted his glance toward him to ensure that nothing was required during this momentary pause. He quickly noted that it was part of the familiar routine … only a slight delay and he was back searching the early morning sky.

Before picking up the oars once again he paused and looked affectionately at his partner. His admiration for him had grown over the years as they had repeated this process many, many times. His eyes studied the silhouette sitting there on that cold, ice-covered seat.  He felt bad that he hadn’t gotten another cushion.  It seemed like he said that every time, always promising to bring one next time but next time was always the same. How proud he looked sitting there with steam coming out of his nose with every breath.  He looked regal, like a king surveying his domain. The broad shoulders and thick neck spoke of his strength as no volume of written words could ever express. But it hadn’t always been that way …no, not by a long shot.

As he began to row once again his mind wandered back to that time some 6 years earlier when he first met his partner. It was one of those meetings when you knew from the very first moment that you both had a lot in common. Yes, he remembered that chilly fall morning just as if it had been yesterday; and a hundred or more other days after that which had been just as special. But somehow that first meeting was special.  It  was as if he heard someone say, “Yes … he’s the one.”

Up to that point there had been a number of partners, some good and some not so good but each one special in his own way. He had always been very careful in choosing his partners since he had a firm and fast rule … once a partner, always a partner no matter what. And boy, he had had a couple of no matter whats in his lifetime. But, when you were the so-called professional you had better have a great partner if you wanted to stay in the game. And oh how this one had made him look good!

It was something in his eyes and the way he carried himself; always alert, assured and totally under control. Better, he thought, than many of his clients. But that was another story! As the small boat skimmed through the thin ice he smiled to himself and once again thanked the Good Lord for introducing him to this wonderful companion.  His partner, his life long friend and most importantly, God’s special teacher. Yes, he’d been learning from the very moment he picked all 9 pounds of him out of that litter 6 years ago.

The Lord had taught him so much through this wonderful retriever. He had been training working retrievers for a number of years when Buck came along and since that day nothing had been the same. Where other dogs had to be prodded and pressured to repeat the task over and over, little Buck seemed to get it the first time.  Always a little shy and slow for the first few times but when he understood … that was it.  From that moment on it was proudly locked in that beautiful yellow head. It was like the first time he took him out to the lake with the other dogs he was training. Buck was just 8 weeks old and he left him on the bank of the lake to watch while he worked the other dogs on water retrieves. He kept an eye on Buck every now and then to be sure he didn’t wander off but somehow … he was gone!

He called his name several times but no response.  His heart quickened a little as he turned to the big Lab that was returning from the long water retrieve. Where could that little dickens have wandered off to? All he needed was to wind up as some coyote’s lunch!  Just then he felt something bump against his leg and he looked down. Just as proud as could be, there was that little yellow Lab swimming around his legs.

And that’s when it all began!

As he smiled at the little pup he cast the big dog off on another retrieve and at moment that little voice down inside gently spoke to him …

“That’s how I want our relationship to be. You see how he trusts you? He decided if the water is good enough for you then it’s good enough for him. He was afraid but you gave him confidence.  Don’t ever give him reason to lose that confidence and he will follow you for life. Do you have that kind of confidence and trust in Me? You would never lead Buck into harms way, neither will I lead you astray. As he grows and matures … learn from him. He is my gift to you”.

From that day on Buck taught me one sound biblical principal after another. I remember the day that I was just beginning to steady him … making him wait until I released him before making the retrieve. He was breaking and wouldn’t listen to me. I was getting a little frustrated and the Lord spoke very clearly, “Now you know how I feel when you get something in your head and won’t listen to Me”! After a couple of sudden stops at the end of a 6-foot check cord Little Buck was steady as a rock. It reminded me of the times that the Lord had to take me to the woodshed for things that I had done against His wishes … and my ultimate good.  I guess I had to hit the end of my check cord to learn as well.

As time went by little Buck grew into one of the most stunning Labrador Retrievers I have ever seen. He was single handedly responsible for keeping clients in our kennels. People would see him work and they couldn’t put their dogs in Eagle Hill Kennels fast enough.  It seemed that no matter what task I gave to Buck he would master it almost immediately.

I was sitting in the duck blind one afternoon pondering that thought when the Lord answered me …

“It’s because you have never given him any reason to doubt you.  He assumes you know what you are doing and that you have his best interests at heart. He depends on you for direction and his will has been submitted to you, and having made that decision he sees no reason to change. He is obedient to your every word.  Why haven’t you done that with Me?

It seemed to happen like that all the time. I would be training a dog and the Lord would keep a running dialogue on what was going on.

On one occasion I was working with a singularly difficult black Lab named Ace. I had taken to affectionately calling him Ace The Head Case … well … actually that was just one name among many. It didn’t matter what you wanted Ace to do, it was a fight and he never gave in easily. At this particular moment we were having a deep discussion regarding the way in which Ace was reducing my stock of training pigeons. A Lab’s mouth is so soft that I had pigeons which I used for months without so much as a ruffled feather.  But not Ace. He ate them … whole! As I raised his face to mine I was about to explode when the Lord said …

“Not fun looking in the mirror is it”? You see, Ace had no training as a youngster and he set his mind and heart on pleasing Ace. No one was interested in investing the time and energy to train him and so, he trained himself and everyone else around him. Why do you think they brought him to you! That’s how I see my children.  Many were raised without hearing my voice and by the time they come to me they have a lot of bad habits. It really is so much easier when they come as little children; full of trust and with such and open mind.  How sad that many have to become like Ace first.  But I have never found that to be an exasperating problem. With patience and love I get a lot farther than with force and intimidation.  Sometimes it takes tough love but love nevertheless. Why don’t you try it? I never stopped loving you during those years when you were … shall we say … eating your own brand of pigeons!

After that I began to look at my relationship with these beautiful animals and life in a different way. It seemed as though my level of patience began to increase and life at the kennels became much more enjoyable; not to mention at home – just ask Diane! Day after day and challenge after challenge gave the Lord many opportunities to teach me through those dogs and Buck in particular. Sometimes He joked with me and other times His Words found their way deep down inside to a place I never knew existed … a place so near to Him that I knew what He meant almost before He said it. I shall never forget one of those special moments.

One of the strict rules at Eagle Hill Kennels was sanitation and health. No dog was ever admitted without a vet check up and all vaccinations completed. If anyone has ever seen the parvovirus attack a young puppy they will never forget it; the suffering is gut wrenching. I had just gotten three 10-week-old pups to begin acclimating at our home when it happened. Somehow, in spite of all our precautions it struck those pups and we had an around-the-clock fight on our hands.  We administered IV fluids, we prepared special foods, we administered medicine and we waited. But we were losing the battle with one of the pups. The Vet told me there was only one hope.

I put the little guy in the truck and Buck and I headed for good old Doc Brown.  Doc is one of those special Vets who always approached problems with the basics. Now you have to know that just the smell of the Doc Brown’s office would normally put Buck in a blue mood.  If you looked at him you would think that someone had just beaten him. His tail would hang down and he wouldn’t even look at me. As we entered his office Doc asked me if I wanted him to give Buck something to knock him out during the process, as dogs just didn’t stand still for this procedure.  I looked down at Buck and saw his head and tail standing high … no he wouldn’t need it.

As we walked into the operating room Buck jumped up and put his front paws on the operating table, the very one that usually gave him the shakes.  He gave me a look that said … “well, let’s get it done”. He sat there on that cold, stainless steel table and never made a sound. The assistant put the needle in his leg and he never even took his eyes off of that young puppy lying on the table next to him.  As the transfusion began you could hear a pin drop in that office. Old Doc Brown just scratched Buck’s ears and sighed … “Old boy, you’re one in a million”. I was busy scratching the ears of that little pup when that so familiar voice began to speak to my heart.

“Look at the way he is sitting there. Not a cry or a whimper. You didn’t even ask him to do this but he’s there because he wouldn’t be any place else. That is how my Son looks at you. His blood was shed that you might have life.  Your life is full and free from sin because His blood was shed in your place. Look at Buck’s eyes … they are focused on the purpose of his sacrifice. He is here for that puppy just as My Son was there for you. Just as he is quietly committed to his trial so was My Son.

Buck’s blood is giving new life to this puppy. The virus is being cleaned from his body and new life is being infused. That’s what Jesus did for you. He took the sin virus from you and replaced it with life … His life. As Buck is saving this life so Jesus shed his blood to save all mankind. This puppy could not get here on his own.  You had to bring him. As you make your rounds at the Kennels you are ever vigilant for the slightest sign of sickness in every one under your care. When you see it you act immediately. Who do you think has taught you to notice the tell tale little signs to watch for?   My Spirit. Who do you think causes you to pause and look at a dog a little closer? My Spirit.  It’s the same in life.

There are many in the world that are going through life dying with the sin virus in their body. Many are unaware that they even have it while some know it and refuse the treatment. I have given you My Spirit to lead you to those who need the transfusion.   My Son’s blood is available to all but it won’t do them any good if someone doesn’t tell them and lead them. So watch in your daily ins and outs for the one’s that need help. Just as you know the signs of a sick dog My Spirit will show you the sick person. Give them the same attention you have given to this puppy. I don’t want even one to be lost when the free gift of life is so readily available.”

As we pulled the boat into the blind my eyes were beginning to grow misty. I was only aware of it as the tears began to freeze on my eyelashes. Buck had taken his usual position on the bench so he could alert me to each incoming flight of ducks. His eyes never ceased searching in the darkness; probing for the silent whisper of wings that only he could hear. As I was pouring a cup of coffee I heard him make that little “snort” that was his way of calling me back into the game. His eyes never left the sky and as I followed his gaze, there in the dawn sky was the first flight of ducks headed straight at us.

As I said that familiar command that released him to make the retrieve his muscles tensed for a brief moment and then he took to the air and hit the icy water. I heard the ice crack as he hit it in full stride.  I watched him breaking the ice as he headed directly for his target and wondered … would I jump in this icy water for someone, only to bring back something he wanted just for a kind word, a rub of the ears and a bite of sandwich or a cookie? As I watched him obediently carrying out my wishes I thought about what a wonderful example of the Christian life he was.

He was faithful, trusting and obedient and focused all his love and attention on me. No matter what he was doing, when I entered the scene I was all that mattered. When I wasn’t there he spent all his time just waiting for me. His ears would perk up when he saw me coming and he would raise his tail proudly as he trotted over next to me. All he wanted was to be at my side; in the truck, in the office, beside the fire – anywhere. There was the time when I was sitting by the lake on a sunny afternoon and he came up and laid his head on my lap and locked those soft eyes on mine. The Lord reminded me … “that’s how I want you to be with Me”.

As I watched him climb out of the water with the prize held softly in his mouth the ice was already forming in his whiskers. I thought to myself, no man could have taught me what you have and no man could have been such an example of God’s love as you have been. As I set his prize down and reached for the still steaming cup of coffee I didn’t even mind when I heard the gulps that signaled the end of my peanut butter sandwich.

Life didn’t get a whole lot better than this! As I gazed into that bright and morning star, a still small voice spoke to my heart …

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow! I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. And here is how to measure it -the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:9-13).

Buck has since laid his life down for me but the lessons he taught me will remain for a lifetime. Many times the Lord still teaches me when He shares another of His favorite “Buck Examples.” Yes, he’s gone but he’s still teaching me. My Lord knows just how to reach my heart … and it usually involves an old yellow dog that had the softest eyes and warmest heart you ever saw.

Please pardon the water spots on this note.