The man listened, puzzled. Drover was barking. It was not his cat-in-the-tree bark; it was more like his stranger-in-the-driveway bark. But something was not right. Drover clearly understood his duty not only to make noise, but to stand rigid, head erect, ears pointed, and eyes alert, always facing the danger. But today Drover was not to be seen. He was under the man’s house, barking. How could a watchdog do his duty from under the house?  

The man called, and Drover appeared with his ears flattened and his head tilted. The man carefully examined him. As the man touched his ear, Drover winced. Ah, so here was the problem—ear mites. Drover understood that he was being attacked, but he did not understand from what direction. He knew his ears hurt, but he couldn’t comprehend why. So, he had retreated under the house to bark. The man took a medicine dropper and carefully put ear mite medicine in Drover’s ear.  

After Drover had gone his way, the man rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Do humans ever crawl under the house to bark? Perhaps they fall out of tune with God. They don’t feel good. Their conscience troubles them because they are resisting the Holy Spirit. So, they retreat under the house and bark. They begin to find fault with others. They become critical, but their criticism is not constructive. Rather than addressing the concern directly, they talk to others who are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution. This is worse than barking from under the house, for it is not only ineffectual, but also destructive. When the disciples displayed such a spirit, Jesus rebuked them. He reminded them that He came to save, not to destroy.  

Let us face danger out in the open, with eyes alert and conscience clear.  

Have a critical bark? Come out from the dark! 

From Paws on My Porch, by Gary Miller
© 2015 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610
Used by permission