“Apollo, a 13-year-old Shih Tzu, went missing in Florida and was found over 1,000 miles away in Long Island, New York. A Florida family says they were overjoyed to be reunited with their dog, who had been missing for more than two months — but were shocked to learn that he had turned up more than 1,000 miles away in New York. Speaking with FOX 35 Orlando and WKMG, the Josey family of Marion County, Fla., shared that their 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Apollo, had disappeared from their home after he made his way out through a gate in April this year. "We definitely kept the faith, held out hope," Vera Josey told FOX of the pet's disappearance. "We still got his dog food, we still got his toys, we've still got all his stuff. So we knew Apollo was gonna come home. It was just a matter of when”” (people.com; June 29, 2026). I’m sure that Apollo didn’t plan on being gone for two months and traveling for over 1000 miles when he snuck out a gate near his home. But that’s what happened anyway. If the little dog could talk, imagine the stories he would have to tell.
This story is a great illustration of how sin works. Most don’t plan to end up a thousand miles away from God when all they wanted was to just have a little stroll outside the gate. But one sin led to another - and another - until, suddenly, they found themselves in a place they never thought they’d be. A famous quote puts it this way: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." I suppose the prodigal son understood this when he found himself in a distant country with empty pockets and hungry enough to eat pig food (Luke 15:11-16). Don’t mess with sin! Even a little bit can lead to much bigger problems. Thankfully, God waits to welcome us when we return home (Luke 15:20).
God loves you!
Mike
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