True gentleness is anything but weak

I took our dog for a walk earlier today. When he was younger, he used to tug at his leash all the time, straining to go where he wanted and refusing to walk in step beside us. Today, not one tug. In fact he rarely tugs anymore.

I'd love to say the difference is our exceptional dog training skills, but in fact it is something called the Gentle Lead. It is a small strap that clips loosely around a dog's snout and then to the leash. While wearing it, if a dog tries to tug, it gently pulls his head to the side, which stops the dog from tugging.

Now, walking Finnegan is much more enjoyable, because his straining and tugging is under control.

This process reminds of the Greek word praus, which is usually translated meek or gentle. What comes to mind when you think of meekness? Probably not what came to the minds of ancient Greeks.

Praus is thought to possibly have military origins. The Greek army would find the strongest, wildest mountain horses and train them to be powerful warhorses, guided by the slightest nudge of its rider. The term praus was used to describe a wild stallion or mare that had learned to respond to the leading of its rider.

In other words, praus is strength under control. The horse is still powerful, still courageous, still fierce, but it was now also submitted to and loyal to its master.

Interestingly, praus is also a fruit of the Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

~ Galatians 5:22-23

When we decide to follow Jesus, God doesn't ask us to stop being strong or courageous or fierce. Just the opposite, in fact. Rather, he teaches and trains us to put these powerful things under his guidance, and sometimes he leads us to be strong in ways we don't expect or enjoy.

It takes strength to lay down our rights when God asks us to for the sake of his gospel. It takes courage to open ourselves up in vulnerability. It requires an element of enduring fierceness to continue to speak for those who have no voice.

PAUSE AND REFLECT: who is in control of your strength? Do you use it as you see fit, or have you submitted your strength to the "gentle lead" of the Holy Spirit? We are continually tempted to strain and tug. We desire to go where we want, do what we want, and accomplish our goals as we see fit. Yet God invites us to live with praus.

The best warhorses are powerful and fearless in battle. Outside of battle, they are calm. And whether in or out of battle, they are always compliant to their rider, and always under control. In other words, they are always praus.

So by all means be strong. But even better, be strength under control, loyal to God and ready for him to lead.

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