The Dog and the Dogcatcher ‍
There was once a dog that could not be caught by any dogcatcher. The dog was quick, smart and tough. The dogcatchers tried again and again to catch him but had no luck.
They’d all be sent to the hospital missing a leg, an arm, a tooth, or a toe.
One day a new dogcatcher arrived. He swore that he could catch the difficult dog, and he had faith that he would do so. The other dogcatchers all laughed at him, saying, “You can’t catch that dog.” He replied, “I have hope.”
The new dogcatcher went off to catch the dog. Everyone before him had always used force or attack to try and catch the dog, but the new catcher approached the animal with love in his heart and told him that he would make sure he had a better home.
The dog believed him, as he saw peace in the man’s eyes, which can only be given by God.
So the catcher caught the dog. The pound was no surprise for the dog, as he’d been there before, but this time, he was told by the catcher to have patience, as he would return to him with an owner. A day passed, but no new owner came.
Another day passed, and still, there was no new owner. People did visit the dog, but they all thought that he was just the ugliest dog they’d ever seen. But the dog remained patient, remembering the dogcatcher’s words and the peace of God in his eyes.
Many days went by, turning into weeks until the day came when the other dogcatchers decided it was time to put the unwanted dog to sleep. When they grabbed him to take him to the doctor to receive the fatal injection, the dog didn’t struggle or bite. He didn’t wish to hurt anyone because his new owners would dislike him. As the doctor opened his cage and he saw the needle waiting, the dog continued to believe in the dogcatcher and hoped that his new master would arrive in time.
Just as the needle was being prepped with the chemicals needed to kill the dog, a voice called out from the hallway, “Wait, I say wait.”

It was the dogcatcher being faithful to his word. In many ways, we are like that dog, and Jesus is the dogcatcher we long for.