Pure Glory

by Hazel Straub

A well-known Alaskan dog musher, Susan Butcher, won the Iditarod Trail 1,100 mile (1760 kilometer) race, through winter wilderness, four different years. She trained her young pups by instilling in them that nothing is impossible for you because she and her assistants are here to help you, with any obstacle you meet. Her dogs learned to work in harmony together and to follow the musher’s voice. They had a close relationship with Susan and communication went both ways. Once they stopped even when urged to go. The ocean ice in front of them suddenly cracked and broke open. Due to the relationship between Susan and her dogs, they lived.

Her lead dog was the runt of the litter, sickly, fearful and discounted by everyone, as a sled dog. Susan, however, believed in the dog and gave him a strong name, Granite. She worked closely with him and encouraged him. He got sick and the veterinarian said it was physically impossible for him to ever run with the team. Granite healed and against all the odds, lead the team through a blinding snowstorm to win their first championship, when the storm stopped all the other competitors. Granite, however, lead the team to four victories and lived 17 years.

Susan trained her team through relationship, harmonious teamwork, and two-way communication. Impossible was not considered because of teamwork. Her transforming love for her dogs and her team reminds me of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. He takes the most unlikely people, who others judged to never amount to anything and tells them they are mighty, with a great destiny. The outcasts learn that nothing is impossible with Jesus leading them. They become mighty and do great exploits, due to their close relationship with the Lord and working together in harmony as a team. Mercy, goodness, prosperity and long life follow them because they dwell with Jesus.