the chief end ... lessons from a boarder collie

This weekend we went to the Rhode Island Highland Festival. Along with big men wearing kilts and throwing heavy things, bagpipers, and musicians, there was a demonstration of sheep herding by boarder collies. The trainers take the herding instincts of the dogs and extend them so that the dogs are happiest when they are bringing the sheep to the shepherd and miserable when they don't have sheep to corral. Anyone who has spent time with a boarder collie knows that they really want to heard something! They will heard sheep, cows or children -- whichever is available.

This is a dog that knows what it was born to do. This dog is happy only when it is doing just that. The dog thrives on it's master's approval and is quite content with its place in the pack. As I watched the dog working the sheep, I could not help but remember the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism -- "What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." For generations, children grew up memorizing these words and building them into their view of the the world.

I love the directness of the question and the comprehensiveness of its simple answer. We are here to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If we had some of the persistence of these boarder collies who know what their purpose and pleasure is, we would find this world a far, far better place. The message from God's Word is also so plain and uncomplicated -- "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:4-6.


Keep the faith