Boundaries

I couldn’t believe it the first time I saw it.

It was a big property, with very little fencing.

A big, aggressive-looking dog comes running, barking, but it would stop at a certain point, and back away; only to rush again, but stop at exactly the same spot, as if there was an invisible fence stopping his progress. The dog wouldn’t progress past a certain point.

When I spoke to the owner he explained that there was an invisible boundary. A barrier wire had been installed, and a radio sender device connected to this wire was sending a radio signal to a special collar that the dog was wearing, which audibly warned the dog that this area was "off limits". This warning sound is the dog’s cue to back off otherwise a correction is given which feels like strong static electricity.

An invisible boundary.

Imagine if we could incorporate this into some of our sports. Imagine rugby or soccer, netball or Australian Rules if the ball couldn’t cross the boundary, if it automatically was put back into play by some invisible force every time it crossed the boundary! Or the players were catapulted back into play if they crossed the boundary!

We love boundaries for our pets and animals, we employ rules and boundaries in our sports, but when it comes to boundaries for our lives, we seem to want to baulk at them. We have an aversion to rules, and to being told what to do; these days it seems we don’t even want delineation of what’s right and what’s wrong.

As much as we might not like them, from the beginning of time humans have discovered that to function effectively as a community, we need rules.

In the Bible story, as the Israelites wandered in the desert having been released from slavery in Egypt, it quickly became clear that this nomadic group needed some rules, some boundaries. And so God gave them the 10 Commandments. 10 rules or boundaries that would help them not only to function more cohesively, but importantly would keep them in relationship and right standing with God.

These commandments have helped shape laws and rules right across the world. They have given a basis to the Christian doctrines and creeds, and have helped guide the lifestyles of billions of Jesus-followers throughout the centuries, because they are wise, and good, and they work.

Boundaries are good. Boundaries are necessary. There is an invisible line that God has instigated that we shouldn’t cross, for our own sake and for the sake of others. Perhaps it’s time to go back and re-visit those 10 Commandments, and make sure that they’re at play in our own lives?

So we can all live harmoniously with each other, and with God.

Thank God for boundaries.

www.salvationarmy.org.au/mornington