Tag: energy

Posted in dogs, Life

“Bike ride?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Our dog Samson is coming up on his thirteenth birthday. He’s a lot mellower than he was in his puppy days. I had forgotten some of those days until our daughter brought her golden retriever Rex over to play. At six months, Rex is a ball of hair and energy, ready and willing to chew on anything moving or inanimate.

Samson’s got some kind of retriever in him, along with some German shepherd and a little who-knows-what for good measure. The veterinarian called him a “Florida Brown Dog.” In his puppy days, I had to make sure he burned lots of energy outdoors. If he didn’t he’d burn lots of energy indoors.

Bike rides are a great way to do this. No, we didn’t teach Sam how to ride a bike. I was the one on the bike. At the mention of a “bike ride,” he was ready. His leash in hand, I hopped on the bike, and he took off like a shot. Seventy-five pounds of pure energy would sprint down the street, pulling me along on two wheels. I didn’t have to pedal at all, just hang on tight.

But not too tightly. In about a quarter of a mile, Sam would suddenly pause at the side of the road for a bathroom break. Those same seventy-five pounds could quickly pull down the bike. So I learned to hold his leash on the handlebars in a way that I could quickly release him when he stopped. I could then circle back, grab the lease, and we could continue our bike ride. Once we were about half a mile in, he settled down, and we completed our circuit around the block.

Before too long, my other daughter got a puppy, a Florida brown dog named Kennedy. Hair. Energy. The complete package. When Kennedy came to visit, I got out the bike. I leveled up to a two-engine craft when I took them both out for a bike ride. With a leash in each hand, I felt like Ben Hur riding a chariot around the coliseum. I had a couple of close calls, but no tumbles off the bike.

By the time we got home, both beasts were panting hard, long tongues hanging out, eager to slurp up water together, and collapse on the cool tile floor. Happy, tired dogs.

But not for long.

“Bike ride?”

Posted in Grace, Ministry

VBS Energy

Posted on by William Douthwaite

It’s been a week now since we finished up the annual Vacation Bible School at our church. As I reflect on those five nights, (we do a Sunday through Thursday evening program), I am once again impressed by the ministry energy and momentum generated by this effort.

This event pulls together nearly 100 volunteers from within and some from outside of our congregation, if you count the directors, station leaders, crew leaders, teachers, bakers, clerical help and donors. Those involved include most of our middle and high school youth along with young adults, parents, grandparents and seniors. Some who attended as children now serve in leadership. It is arguably the best fellowship and outreach we do all year, with the majority of children coming from outside of our congregation. Some in attendance deliberately vacation with grandparents the week of our VBS so they can attend!

The afterglow lasts for weeks. Old friendships are renewed and new ones forged. The songs play over and over in our heads. I can still hear the echoes of this year’s drums. Photo galleries and video clips flood Facebook pages. And rather than being exhausted when the week is over, we are energized. Before its over, we are already talking about next year. It is a week when we are at our best!

If only we could replicate this form of revival a few more times a year. In the fall, perhaps, as a new school year begins. Or after Christmas, when the busy holidays are past. I’m not sure what it would look like, but I know it would be very positive for our ministry.

I remember reading something in Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God about seeing where God is at work and then joining Him there. This is definitely one of those places to jump on board! I don’t know what it is about VBS week, but it is a rich blessing for us every single year.