Lenten Devotion – Evil Is Confronted

~~Genesis 3:8-13
They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 

~~Not too long ago I watched a Facebook video about dogs who had been caught – red-muzzled – by their owners. These pitiful pooches had committed unspeakable acts of canine atrocity against couch pillows, trash cans, carpets, window blinds… You name it; the list went on and on.
In this video, various owners held up a shredded item, said the dog’s name in a stern and disappointed voice, and then trained the camera on the criminal animal. It was at that point that the animals made like humans. They tucked their tails. They hung their heads. They laid back their ears and avoided all eye contact. Some did the ‘slow walk’ – circumventing the scene of the crime. Others simply rolled over in submission and abject shame.
Their misdeeds had been discovered. Their evil confronted by the one who had chosen to offer them love, food, companionship, shelter and even life. 
I have a dog like that. She eagerly demonstrates every single neurosis that a Jack Russell Terrier is known for. There are times when I shake my head and wonder why on earth I saved her.
Daily. I wonder why I saved her every day.
And then I hear my sweet Lord clear his throat and walk through this life garden he has so generously shared with me. He often holds in his hands the remnants of my own personal evil (words, thoughts, actions, inactions …). He says my name and I squirm to cover my nakedness.
Then, before my shame grows quite unbearable within my breast, I get that gentle Spirit prod that reminds me, “The ONE who chose you still walks through the garden, seeks you out, and calls you by name even though the evidence of your evil is strewn out in plain sight.”
Oh Father God, thank you for loving me enough to confront the evil I do and the good I neglect to do.
Kristy H.