"All In"

The thing I admire most about dogs is their absolute abandon to the call of the moment. Without any philosophical eloquence, they just plain live each minute as if were the only one that matters. An open window in the car is an invitation to a full-throttle face massage, a mudhole cries out "4-star spa!", dead fish are the ultimate sushi delight and treeing a squirrel is grounds for elated high-fives all around. Life just doesn't get any better than that!

Our adventures include a race to the river for a 'hydro-euphoric' wrestling match. It can be 20 degrees out and somehow the call "all in" is broadcasted among them, and in they go! No questions asked, no weighing their options first. Polar bears have nothing on dogs intent on a splash fight...even in icy waters.

In the peculiar free-associations of my mind, I began to think about the phrase, "all in." It immediately conjured up the picture of a poker table where one player decides he or she has the hand to trump all hands...worthy of putting it all on the line. Do or die. Throw caution to the wind. Go big or go home...literally. There is always a moment of tension, first for the person waging it all on this one hand, then for your own decision as to whether you have what it takes to beat that hand. Their "all in" might require you to go "all in," in order to stay in the game. "All in" is a scary thing, a moment of complete commitment. No bet hedging to secure a path of retreat.

I'm reading a book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan and came across this sentence. "God wants to see His children stake everything on His power and presence in their lives." That's an "all in" call. Unlike the dogs, I want to test the waters first. Is it safe? Is is comfortable? Is it in my best interest? Does it fit into my 5 year plan?

Where's the spontaneity in that? Where's the surrendered abandon? If I truly believe I hold the 'hand to trump all hands,' why do I hem and haw when it comes to God? He's either an absolute royal flush worth banking my life on, or He's not. Do my daily choices evidence an "all in" mentality or do I carefully hedge my bets? How about yours? Is His power and presence in your life an "all in" commitment?

Maybe, like the dogs, we need to think less and go with our gut a bit more. To coin a phrase, let's "puppy-up" and dive in when the call, "all in" comes our way.