Balanced, not going anywhere, and resourceful

My niece has goats on her property and I am always amazed at their activities. They jump up onto higher objects like gravity didn't exist, balancing precariously on a slim edge of board like they didn't fear falling, and all the while try to keep each other away from their favored 'perch'. They would eat continuously and what goes in must come out the other end - almost continuously, as well! They butt into areas they shouldn't be into, cleverly finding ways to find stored food, and taunting others in the pasture with them if they have the chance. Interesting animals indeed. It is almost like they are the 'owners' of the pasture. Do you ever think God a little comical in what he records in scripture? Sometimes you come across something you know is really not "comical", but when you see it, you cannot help yourself - you laugh! Yep....that's what happened when I came across the portion of scripture which described a goat as a "solemn dignitary" - because I have observed it first-hand in her very pasture!

There are three solemn dignitaries, four that are impressive in their bearing—a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none; a rooster, proud and strutting; a billy goat; a head of state in stately procession.
(Proverbs 30:29-31)

Okay...now come on...did you ever consider a goat as a "solemn dignitary" of the barnyard or pasture? I totally get why God calls the lion the king of the beasts (I've seen Lion King a time or two), and even the rooster strutting his stuff (having been in the line of a rooster's sight a time or two and feeling just a little intimidated). As is often the case, I laugh first, then consider what I laughed at! Think about the goat. First, he is pretty sure on his feet, as I described him leaping onto tall places and balancing with ease. I have tried to move one or two in her pasture and if they don't wanna move, there is a whole lot effort to get them moved - they stand their ground! What God may have been trying to show me in this passage is that each of us needs to be "solid" in our footing - balanced and grounded well.

The goat is pretty "unaffected" by the goings on around them - it is like they just don't care what the geese are making a ruckus about, or why the chickens are flapping their wings in haste. Whenever I observe these animals as part of petting zoo they are a little different. You will see some kid pulling at the horns of the goats, others trying to convince them to let them touch their noses because they are soft, and still others trying to 'herd' them so they can pet them all at once. There they stand...seemingly unaffected by the noise, the hub-bub of the moment, and all the urging to do other than what they intend to do. Maybe this is what God intended when he presents the goat as an impressive creature - the ability to not be swayed by the chaos. I think God may be talking to all of us here!

The goat is pretty resourceful in finding of food - having entered the pen a time or two with scraps from my niece's kitchen, only to find them almost sensing I had something intended just for them! They come quickly to my side and almost bowl me over to get something. They seem to make a beeline to the anyone with the food. Amazingly - they know where to look for their food! My hands are almost always empty - I just want to pet them. When they are hungry - they want more than a pat on the back! They have a way of tapping the resources available to them - they know who will provide for them and they go to the one who provides quicker than anyone else! The next time we want to laugh at something God "labels" as worthy of the status of "dignitary", perhaps we'd do well to consider what God might have to show us when we take time to really observe the one he "labels" as a 'dignitary' of sorts. I bear many labels - "mom", "daughter", "employee", "friend". The most important label I hope to wear is "faithful one". Solid in my footing, unaffected by the hub-bub of the hour, and resourceful in finding my sustenance! How about you? Just askin.