LOVED AND UGLY

You've heard of the Big One for dog connoisseurs: June's legendary Westminster Dog Show (New York/established 1877), where preened, purebred pooches of all sizes are paraded with much flair. But there's also a rival competition about the same time across the nation in Petaluma (Pet-aluma—get it?), California. Started in the 1970s, this one—for considerably less-than-stellar mutts--is called the “World's Ugliest Dog.”

This year's winner was “Mr. Happy Face,” an aging Chihuahua mix rescued from an abusive situation with a hoarder. Estimated to be about 17 years old, he was given little chance of finding a new forever home. He had tumors and neurological issues, needed a diaper, could barely stand upright, and held his head (with its Mohawk-like topper) askew. But when he's happy, he reportedly sounded “like a Dodge Ram diesel truck” revving its engine.

That this dog was even adopted was a miracle. One vet, considering his age, past abuse, and disabilities, predicted he'd live only a month or few weeks. The woman who adopted him—despite all his disabilities—determined that he'd get so much love that he'd forget his old life. That was ten months before the “ugly dog” show—and now he earned his owner a $1,200 prize and an appearance on the “Today” show in New York. (Yep, not too far from the “elegant” dog competition site.)

And I thought—how much like God's lavish love described in Romans 5. Our “before Christ” might also be described as full of neglect and abuse. That's how Satan likes to fling about folks who don't know the security of faith in Christ. But God walked into the room, saw the yearning in our eyes despite the ugly trappings of sin, and paid for our release with a check on the “Bank of Calvary,” signed in His Son's blood:

But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).

In no way do I intend to trivialize the extravagant gift of salvation through Jesus Christ by linking it to an “ugly dog” show. But I think even this secular event portrays a deeper truth: that no matter our past, no matter how much we've been knocked around, wounded, rejected, given up on—God never lets us out of His sight. To Him, we're not ugly. What the prophet Isaiah wrote of God's love for Israel is just as true for each of God's human created beings:

You are precious and honored in my sight....because I love you.. (Isaiah 43:4)