20100822

Exercise, discipline, affection

The article What the Dog Saw in Malcolm Gladwell's book of the same name is about how a dog whisperer called Cesar Millan handled rambunctious dogs. His guiding principles were "exercise, discipline and affection".

"When we love someone, we fulfill everything about them," Cesar Millan was quoted in the article as saying. "That's loving." Exercise, discipline and affection are the "everything" he was talking about.
These elements were mentioned in St Paul's letter to the Hebrews (Heb 12:5-7, 11-13), which is the second reading in today's mass. St Paul reminded us not to disdain the discipline of God or lose heart when reproved by him but to endure our trials as "discipline". Such discipline is a sign of God's affection, a sign that he treats us as sons. "For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines," he said.

St Paul also reminded us to exercise. He said that we should "strengthen [our] drooping hands and [our] weak knees so that they may be healed".
Like Cesar Millan who works with the most difficult canines, God never gives up on us but always looks to give us a healthy dose of "exercise, discipline and affection".

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