The name “Hawkeye” no longer conjures up images of the immortal M*A*S*H character or the University of Iowa football team. This week Facebook, Twitter and the on-line news sites have redefined our image of Hawkeye with the photo of, Jon Tumilson’s loyal Labrador.

Tumilson was one of 30 American troops killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan on August 6^th of this year.  Family and friends weren’t surprised that Hawkeye attended Tumilson’s funeral; dog and owner had a special bond.  Today.com reported that Hawkeye followed Scott Nichols down the aisle and “dutifully laid down near the casket.”  A reported 1,500 mourners watched as Hawkeye ‘‘accompanied his master until the end.” The powerful photo showing Hawkeye lying beside Tumilson’s casket is heartbreaking and is without doubt, one that will be remembered for years to come.  As I read the short news story that ran with the photo, the phrase “accompanying his master until the end” pierced my thoughts; Hawkeye’s action was compelling definition of loyalty

As i thought about the photo and story a simple question, but profound question rose from the deep recesses of my mind; “What would my picture of loyalty look like to my Master?” I’m afraid that my picture would be so fuzzy and out of focus that you wouldn’t even be able to tell it was me. I’m certainly no Hawkeye.

My friend, Bill Jones, proofed the first draft for me. His reply email included an “I love it,” but he also chastised me for not including “a strong quote from Scripture” in the first draft. So, I went searching and decided that the 13th chapter of Mark best fit what Bill wanted to add.

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”  —Mark 13:32-37

Allow me to use some creative authorship on the last lines. “…Therefore remain loyal – for you do not know when the master of the house will need you. It could be in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning. Don’t let him find you inattentive and wandering. Above all maintain your sense of loyalty.

You can read Hawkeye’s story at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44271018/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/t/dog-mourns-casket-fallen-navy-seal/.

How would you answer the question; “What would my picture of loyalty look like to my Master?”

When all is said and done and my final picture has been taken, I pray that the familiar words found in Matthew 25:23 are the picture of my life; "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”

Copyright © 2011 Judith Bell

Rain for Ditches

Last week I had the privilege to attend the Global Leadership Summit. The agenda included big name authors and speakers including Bill Hybels, Seth Goodin, Michelle Rhee, Patrick Lencioni and others. The last speaker on Thursday was Steven Furtick, a young pastor from Charlotte, North Carolina. I had already experienced several aha moments, but Steven’s talk really hit home with me.


I’ve been writing weekly reflections since 2007 and even before the madness of the summer and the move to San Antonio, I had struggled with coming up with new and uplifting ideas. In other words, I was experiencing a creative drought.

I’m not the only one to find myself in the middle of a drought. There are places in Texas that haven’t had rain in over a year. This drought is the worst of the decade and most old timers say it is the worst that they remember. Hundreds of thousands of acres have failed. A friend that works in the agriculture business says that this year’s crop is the most uniform crop that they’ve had in years because everything is brown. Weather forecasters don’t offer much hope of any measurable rain in the near future. The water situation is so dire, that lakes have dried up revealing remnant of Old Bluffton, an 1850’s era Texas community that flooded in 1937 with the opening of a damn.

Last Thursday, even though the temperatures soared into the triple digits, there was a 30% chance of rain for the San Antonio area. Now, 30% doesn’t sound like much, but there was a hope that rain would come. Unfortunately, San Antonio didn’t get rain, but I was spiritually rained on!

Furtick told the story of Elisha, the prophet (2 Kings 3:1-20). The quick version of the story goes like this: The kings of Israel, Edom and Judah set out to do battle with the Moabites. They set out and after marching for seven days, ran out of water. Of course, the initial response was panic but then they remember the prophet, Elisha. The kings reach out to Elisha. Elisha is insolent to the kings, but finally tells the kings what to do. He tells them, “dig ditch after ditch” so that the valley can be filled with water.”

I can only imagine the kings’ responses and questions! How could digging a ditch possibly bring water that was so desperately needed? Because it is in the ditch that hope comes. I was already inspired by Furtick’s message, but it was this line that brought the rain; “If you will dig the ditches, God will send the rain.” What a refreshing reminder that “faith is the reality of what is hoped for, and the proof of what is not seen (Hebrews 11:1).


It was difficult to admit that I hadn’t been digging any ditches lately. So, I found a scrap of paper and started writing. I started the ditch and the rain came.

“God doesn’t call you to have the faith to finish. He calls you to have the faith to get started.”

                                                                                                                                       - Steven Furtick

Copyright©2011 Judith Bell