Yes, I am one of those people who crates their dogs. They rest well in their crates. My German Shepherd stays in hers all night long, even with the door open. She actually prefers it closed so she can have her privacy.
Recently, we boarded them at a pet resort that is crate free, where all the dogs have rooms they can freely walk around in. They love it there, but they always come back exhausted. It takes about two days to recover from all that playtime. Their recovery involves meal time and seeking the quietude of their crates.
While I was watching them lying around tired and lazy, it occurred to me that I had felt the same way after my own vacation. Not physically, I bounced right out of bed ready to take on the world, but my heart and mind did not seem to follow. My prayers time felt cumbersome. I did pray and read the Bible during the vacation, but somehow I was not truly at the feet of my Savior.
“Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.”
-Luke 8:35
We as Christians share a safe place where the mind is at ease, the heart feels joy, and a peace that transcends worldly description, all at His feet. Almost like the state of the once demon possessed man in Luke 8, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.
I do not have a prescription for how to stay in that place permanently, but I know this: a strong and persistent urge to return there is a good place to start. My hyper-energetic German Shepherd does not overthink it. When she has had enough of the world, she simply seeks her crate with single-minded determination. Perhaps that is the model. Seek hard. Return often.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
-Jeremiah 29:13
Dear Jesus,
I submit my heart, mind, and soul to You. Please cleanse me and make me whole. Banish the thoughts that do not belong and fill me with the goodness that only You can grant. Amen.