The Dogged Pursuit

I've been sleeping pretty well lately, but I am aware when I wake up to roll over that I've had lots of goofy dreams. In one, I was with some people, don't know who, and we got on our stomachs and crept over a grassy hill in some kind of flat vehicle to see what was over the rise. I saw 4 dogs. One was old and really looking bad. Couldn't run anymore. Another was separate, but not far away. Two others were just beyond that. Suddenly two deer appeared. When they saw the dogs they took off running. The two dogs that were together took off after them. It was one of those doggie chases that they all love. The third dog jumped up. The chase didn't mean quite so much to this dog, but it was still a dog and was about to run after the other dogs. Then it saw the old dog. The old dog got up, having heard the commotion, and wanted to chase, but just couldn't. I was quite surprised to see the healthy dog forget the chase to come over and sniff the old dog. The healthy one couldn't do much for the old one other than show concern and care. That's where the dream ended.

It stuck with me throughout the day, so maybe God is saying something here. As compassionate as we want to think we are, sometimes we fret against having to be there for people with chronic, ongoing debilitation. Anxiety, depression, OCD, addiction, etc. are difficult to deal with if it's not a formal ministry or career. But reaching into our available time for that patience and caring may be what God wants to a certain degree of all of us. 

Anyone who claims to be a Christian needs to be very familiar with Matt. 25:31-46:

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (from biblehub.com, NKJV)