A Dangerous Journey

It seemed like a good idea and it began as it should have. After a summer of teams, guests, and eating whatever I wanted, August brought a full three weeks of being home, getting back into the routine, and control of my menu. It seemed right, natural, wise, and even heroic to slip into my sneakers for a jog that morning. Little did I know that I would be engaged in battle as those first loping steps carried me from the safety of my home.

I had a destination in mind as I set out that morning. It would be just a quick jog over the rutted, gravel roads of my neighborhood to a nice park where many take advantage of smooth trails for runners in the cool mornings. I thought I would do the same. My ever-present and brave side-kick, Wolly, the German Sheppard was at my side. I had only crossed the first intersection, a mere 30 seconds from my home when I realized the error of my ways.

With bared teeth dripping saliva and deep growls in their throats, a band of wild street dogs had heard my approach and were moving into military position. Before I realized the danger, I was just 15 steps from engagement and the dogs were edging forward. I then remembered that in the spring, Jay had walked this very direction and been attacked by three wild, street dogs. If it hadn’t been for a heavy computer case, which he used to both fend and wack, he would have been bitten. As Wolly began to bare his teeth with a thunderous growl being born somewhere in the caverns of his chest, I acted quickly and bent down while keeping my eyes on the enemy. Picking up several sharp rocks, in one fluid motion, I straightened, pulled back my mighty arm, and with a guttural cry of victory, propelled the arsenal through the air, scattering my snarling foe in several directions. I had won the battle but the engagement so early on in my epic tale convinced me to alter my course and destination. I navigated away from the enemy embedded terrain, and veered right toward a section of our neighborhood that is recently engaged in heavy construction.

My instincts proved correct for a time but as I moved out of the construction zone, I found myself in unchartered territory. Having relaxed into the rhythm of the jog, it took several moments before I realized that something was trailing me and gaining quickly. I turned in time to see three wild, street dogs, moving into attack formation. Without thinking, I stopped, turned, and gave a mighty yell as I frantically looked around for a branch. Wolly, who had been loping ahead and peeing on foreign branches, returned to my side and began to growl. The dogs, still snarling, slowed but continued to move forward. Not finding a branch anywhere, I swallowed my fear, and once again bent low to grasp several rocks. As I felt the sharp edges of a palm sized nugget, my fingers molded themselves around its coolness, and in one fluid motion, I rose and propelled. My strategy again found its mark as the dogs quickly disengaged and ran for cover. It was at this juncture that I decided to journey towards the safety of my home.

Just a block from safety, I saw three figures approaching in the distance. It was a man with two large, unleashed dogs at his side. Wolly had noticed too. Foolishly thinking that Wolly would obey my command, I moved into a hollow of the street with a garage door at my back and gave Wolly the command to sit and stay. He obeyed but as I began to praise him, the error of my decision became apparent. The other commander had no power over his two dogs. Despite his commands, they were running at full tilt toward Wolly and before I could move, the dogs were on top of each other and I was being pinned to the garage amidst the snarling and growling. Realizing that I was in real danger, I began to inch myself away from the dogs, held my breath, and waited for one of them to clamp down on my leg. Eventually, the other commander arrived and barked to disengage, which his dogs obeyed this time. Seeing his chance to flee, Wolly headed straight for home at full speed, leaving me to fend for myself. As I came upon the last intersection between myself and safety, I saw the first band of dogs again. Evidently spying Wolly’s great gallop home, they had once again chased him and they were now on a return victory march. Realizing that they were unaware of my presence, this was my moment of revenge and I picked up several sharp rocks to torpedo at the enemy unawares. The surprise attack was all that I had hoped for as they scurried and yelped in fear.

I had left my home that morning, a spineless woman without the ability to exercise courage or control over her own diet for weeks but I returned that morning a brave she-warrior.
As a side note, wild street dogs are a problem both in Bulgaria and Romania. In recent years, the governments have exercised some reforms and we have seen a decrease in their populations. Nevertheless, they still remain a relevant and persistent problem.

In my opinion, they serve as a significant symbol of the ongoing up-hill struggle of our countries toward a democracy that is being carved out of the rough-hewn stone of Communism. In the wake of the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, financial crises left most citizens virtually penniless. Overnight, life savings were relegated to monetary equivalents that could barely purchase a McDonalds hamburger. Unable to feed their families, many citizens turned their dogs onto the streets. Today’s generation of rampant street dogs are the descendants of yesterday’s family pet.

The heroic journey that Eastern Europeans have set upon is truly an epic tale of courage and sacrifice. Though most can now afford the price of a McDonald's meal, though we now are proud members of the EU, though modern high-rises are mushrooming everywhere, the enemy still lurks and barrs the pathway to true freedom. Inflation is growing at a rampant rate, the inability to stem corruption and crime has blocked EU funding, and a healthy middle class still struggles to define itself. In the villages, the picture is somber.

As a ministry focused on helping at-risk children and as a church focused upon planting and watering church growth, the fall of the dollar and the rise of inflation is a double edged sword. We struggle to find means to support the needs of the people we serve.

It is at this juncture that I am reminded that none of us journey this path alone and unprotected. We do have a mighty warrior by our side and it is he who does battle beside us and for us. We enter into the fray NEVER to battle people but to battle the darkness. It is in the midst of this pain and suffering that we pray, 'thy kingdom come', and believe that His kingdom is meant to come today into each of our lives and that it brings victory on the roads of our life frought with danger.