From the Rector…
I have never seen a dog enjoy a walk as much as Archibald does. He might be a basset hound with really short legs, but we are barely out the door before he has moved into position, taking the lead and only slowing down to sniff the occasional patch of grass—or run into parked cars when distracted by cats. As much as Archie loves a walk, however, he does not love his lead.
Bassets can be challenging to walk. They may be short, but they are strong. Years ago, our first basset hound, Flash, would pull so hard on the leash that I started having shoulder problems because of it. When I asked the vet what to do, he recommended a spiked collar. It worked. I didn’t love the idea of spikes digging into Flash’s neck, but all it took was a short tug on the leash and he would immediately come to heel. Our walks improved dramatically—and so did my shoulder.
Years later, I discovered The Gentle Lead. Instead of spikes, it is modeled after the bit and bridle you would use with a horse. There is no bit in the dog’s mouth, but you do slip their nose through a loop that runs around the chin and fastens behind the head. It is much gentler than metal spikes and makes it far easier to guide the dog. (And for anyone who says a dog just needs better leash training, I would ask if they have ever owned a basset hound—or, as I prefer to call them, the most stubborn dog breed in the world.)
Archie and Petunia both use The Gentle Lead. (Cutty uses a simple slip lead because golden retrievers are basically canine honor students.) We walk almost every morning, and they strut through the neighborhood with their heads held high and perfectly in step with one another. They stop to sniff all their favorite places, keep a close watch for birds, squirrels, and cats, and occasionally pause to receive attention from neighbors who want to pet them—which they absolutely love.
Getting leashed up is almost as exciting as the walk itself. Cutty hangs back and watches the chaos unfold while Petunia grabs every leash she can find and performs an enthusiastic happy dance. She is chaos wrapped in fur. It usually takes some convincing before she finally releases her brothers’ leads so everyone can get strapped in. Even then, she is far too excited to stand still but, she willingly lowers her head and lets me put The Gentle Lead on her without hesitation. Archie is another story.
Archie does not want that lead touching the top of his nose. The top of a dog’s nose is one of the most sensitive and submissive points on their body, and because The Gentle Lead applies pressure there, it gives you greater control. Oddly enough, Petunia—the dominant dog in our pack—accepts it easily. But Archie, sweet and submissive Archie, fights it every time. Eventually, he relents and allows me to put it on because he knows it is the only way he gets to go out the front door and experience the world. He may not like the lead, but he loves where it takes him.
Spiritual disciplines can be a bit like that. We know we need to come to church, read Scripture, pray, serve, and make space for God in our daily lives. Yet for all sorts of reasons, we resist. Sometimes it feels inconvenient. Sometimes uncomfortable. Sometimes we simply do not want anyone—even God—guiding us. But when we finally submit ourselves to those practices, we often discover they lead us somewhere beautiful. They draw us closer to Christ. They deepen our joy. They anchor us in difficult seasons and open our eyes to grace we might otherwise miss.
Archie may not like his lead, but he loves his walk. We are not so different. Discipleship may not include a strap on the nose, but our lead can take us down a spiritual path where we walk with Jesus.
Light and Life,
Candice+