Lula has decided she is a hunting dog. As soon she gets her leash on, it’s nose down and single-minded determination. Brad claims Lula has jumped several jackrabbits and cottontails, but I have yet to witness this skill, However, I thought I was going to yesterday when she was on the hunt in this tall dead grass. She didn’t just have her nose down, she had her whole head in. And when she didn’t immediately find what she was looking for, she got low and belly crawled deeper into the grass. All the while I’m using my most serious dog hunter training voice and saying, “Look good in there. Look good. It’s in there, Lula. Find it. Find that rabbit.” Seconds later when a little mouse jumped UP and out, both us got quite the surprise! Stunned, she looked at me as if to say, “That was NOT a rabbit.”

As we continued on our walk, I got to thinking. How many times have I stuck my nose in some place where it really didn’t belong, and instead of turning from what is clearly trouble, I just belly crawled a little deeper in?

Here’s the one that gets me far too often. I’m scrolling through Facebook or Twitter. I come upon a “hot” post with 240 comments, so I instantly stick my nose in. I start scrolling through the comments. I’m shocked at what I’m reading, but nonetheless, I belly crawl in a little further and keep reading. It’s safe to say it’s a belly crawl at this point because I am down in the mud and the muck. It’s also safe to say there is not one good thing that comes from it. Not. One. I’m not more informed or knowledgeable. I’m not more compassionate or caring. I’m certainly not more joyful. In fact, it’s just the opposite. It poisons my thoughts, and even at times, my emotions. And as the old saying reminds me, I need to watch my thoughts because they become words… 240 comments…, and my words become actions, and my actions become habits, and my habits become my character.

There’s not one good thing that comes from belly crawling… whether were doing it on Facebook or with a group of gossiping friends. If we’re going to dig in a little deeper, let’s stick our nose into something that will nourish and feed us and that we can use to strengthen and encourage others. I’m prayerful we will all spend more time in the scriptures than we spend scrolling.

Warrior on!