Dog mushing and the Christian walk

What do dog mushing and walking the Christian walk have in common?

Nothing, at least at first glance. Then again, as I gave it some thought while laying there in bed on a early Saturday morning as snow and ice continued to grip our Alaska spring, I started to see a few subtle likenesses.

A good dog musher always continues to be busy during mushing season. A Christian should always endeavor to tell people about Jesus, in season and out of season. Paul said to the Christians in Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We are to lay aside anything that hinders our progress.

In my early teens I gave my heart to Jesus. I was saved, as Jesus said in John 3:3, I was “born again.” As time went on, I helped my dad build a little church, which he pastored, and which I would attend every Sunday morning. There were a lot of other Christian activities to be involved with as well. My parents didn’t have to make me go to church because I enjoyed it.

Then I started mushing sled dogs on weekends, and when the snow hit the ground that first season I was ready. I was very intense about my competitiveness in this sport, having never competed in sports in my school years. I took to my newfound sport at age 21 with everything I had. I didn’t attend much church then; the fact is dog mushing became No. 1 in my life. The word of God says not to forsake our fellowshipping as Christians. Fellowship with other Christians is very important and to have a pastor who looks out for our spiritual wellbeing is very important in our Christian walk, and attending church is important.

I made a decision to follow my dog mushing interest. Looking back now, what would God have had for me if I would’ve been in his perfect will, not just in his permissive will?

Each person has a ‘”will,” which is how God made us. We can do what we want, he will not force us.

If a dog musher does not train his or her dogs, they cannot perform to their highest potential.

The fact is, if they haven’t been trained at all they won’t function as a dog team.

A Christian who makes a hobby, his job or even his family No. 1 cannot grow spiritually and puts himself in a position to be deceived by the adversary. Usually, they get away from fellowship with other Christians and don’t attend church much. The Bible seems distant, and in fact the flesh will dominate their born-again spirit. Instead of walking in love, walking in the spirit will be just like the world — flesh rules looking out for only themselves.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

I have raced the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race many times, and when you get up the trail a ways on the coast on a beautiful day where the sun is shining, you think you got it all together. It is exuberant; Utopia is a word I have used to describe it. Then the sun goes down and the wind picks up. The trail may have been wiped out and all you have is the next marker you can barely see with your headlamp. Then you feel very small and obscure.

I have heard of many mushers who have made a prayer to God in times like these to help them make it through, and if he does they pray they would do something, a promise, which most times they admit they don’t follow through with.

When they pray, a lot of Christians ask God for something, but there are times we need to be quiet and listen. God speaks to his children through that still small voice, and sometimes he gives us direction. Right then, you know it’s from God, but if you do not move right away that inward witness prompting will become dull. Later, you try to reason it out in your head, and many times you will say that must have just been me and not do what God had asked.

A good musher doesn’t speak of defeat, a champion speaks of success and victory.

Many Christians, during good times when everything is going smoothly, have a good confession speaking of their victory in Christ, but when things are not going well for them they speak of defeat, not proclaiming what God’s word says about them.

As a dog musher, I was always faithful in my daily training of my sled dogs. As Christians, we should be willing and obedient to the walk set before us in the Scriptures. Jesus gave us a commandment — to walk in love, to love our neighbor — and it should be our daily goal to be obedient to walk the walk of love. We don’t want to be willing only, but also obedient. The love of God was shed abroad in our hearts when we were born again. We must allow that love to come forth.

Lavon Barve works with Cup of Life Ministry in Wasilla.

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