May 16, 2025
My dog Roger got his summer haircut this week. Roger is a bit of an anxious boy (he's a full on whackadoodle) and to get his hair cut he needs to go to the vet, go under sedation, and get fully shaved down. Because the process is so extensive, the vet recommends he only have this done two times per year. This means when Roger gets "groomed", he goes from extreme shagginess to completely shaved. One day he’s a tumbleweed, and the next he’s sleek and sassy.
Roger is not exactly a fan of the process — and neither am I, to be honest. There is always a risk with sedation and I really dislike the feeling of walking out of the vet's office and leaving him there for a good portion of the day. But he always comes out the other side looking a little more comfortable, and seeming to feel a little more himself.
And isn’t that a bit like our spiritual lives?
Sometimes, many times, the things that bring us renewal aren’t easy. They can be awkward, uncomfortable, or even downright scary. Renewal can require us to let go of old habits, to release control, or to go through a change we didn’t sign up for. It might look like slowing down when we’d rather keep moving, or stepping out when we’d rather hide. There can be risk.
But underneath everything that has overgrown in us, there is often something beautiful waiting to breathe again. Maybe it's clarity. Maybe it's joy. Maybe it's peace. Maybe it's that feeling of “Oh, there I am,” when the clutter clears and our true self, the one God created and delights in, can stretch out and feel the spring sunshine again. Clearing away what no longer serves us is holy work. It's not just self-care; it's soul-care, and it's one of the quiet ways God continues creating in and with us.
Roger reminds me that renewal isn't always a simple process, but that we all benefit from a fresh start now and then. My prayer for you this week is to be able to experience some type of renewal, if needed. To find a way to shed something that's been hanging on, blocking your view of the world and the world's view of you. And then to bask in the sun for a minute, just you and God and unencumbered joy.