Cambodia has a fascination with dogs. Even the poorest person has two or three. Existing on the smallest of food portions from their owners, millions of dogs rummage around the country looking for food. In Cambodia, if there is a heap of garbage, their is sure to be a dog looking for something edible, or at the very least, chewable.

Sanitation is a difficult task because of the dog issue. Street side garbage cans aren’t used here. Why? Because poor people would steal the cans. Plastic garbage bags are sometimes used, but the many dogs tear into them, strewing about the contents all over the street. One of the many reasons Cambodia is covered in litter.

Cambodia, with its traces of Buddhist influence, believes the killing of animals is a sin. While the killing of animals to eat is somewhat acceptable, to kill a dog just because he is a nuisance is wrong. A dog could be the reincarnation of an ancestor. Killing an ancestor is bad. Therefore, dogs are allowed to roam the streets and towns throughout the country, many times, wreaking havoc.

Dogs here are not the family pet, and they are not trained to be. They are spanked and beaten for perceived misbehavior or they are sometimes tied up, but for the most part, dogs are wild. They listen only to the one who feeds them. Beating a dog is acceptable behavior, if it is your dog.

So why have a dog? Security for one reason. A good dog who sticks close to the house will alert you when a thief is near. Theft is a problem and Cambodians have a heartfelt need for feeling secure, to know that someone, even a dog, is looking out for them. Dogs generally do a good job at watching out for their territory. Even the smallest of them will fight for their spot of ground.

Walking down the street is a dangerous endeavor. One must always be on the alert. I have seen packs of dogs chase down school children, knock down a moving bicycle, even stop a motorcycle. I have seen large packs of wandering dogs meet and fight. At night, the noise of fighting and mating dogs is sometime insufferable, sleeping a hopeful wish. Living in Cambodia is like living in a dog kennel.

I had another reminder of this lesson the other day. While walking the half mile to my friends house, I was met by a large pack of dogs. They weren’t happy to see me. Maybe it was the color of my skin? I don’t know, but twelve dogs chased me with savage intent. Surrounded by these bullies, I swatted and kicked, but to know avail. I yelled back at them, I charged at them, but they were unmoved. I could hear the sharp snap of their jaws from behind, so I spun around to kick the mongrels. I missed, slipped and fell on by back. Now, the situation was worse. I was looking up at these frothed mouth, perturbed dogs, and I thought that a bite wound was inevitable. Surely, I was going to the hospital.

Out of the house next to where I lay, a old woman came running, armed with a weapon. She startled the dogs with some Cambodian battle cry just as they move to strike, and I had a moment to stand back up. She charged the pack and scattered them, waving her stick. She was effective and they started to withdraw. I saw my moment to get way and I hobbled quickly on my way. I told her “thank you” as I retreated. No reply, she waved at me to go on. The pack of dogs disappeared into the brush. Maybe they were her dogs? I didn’t stick around to find out.

It is funny how a stop-gap measure causes more problems. We have a heartfelt need, yet what we use to fill the need has ramifications in other areas. Cambodians want to feel secure (the heartfelt need), so they get a dog (stop-gap). The new dog starts to bite pedestrians or tears into the garbage (new problem). So now something has to be done to fix the problems cause by the dog. But, since the heartfelt need is met, there seems to be less motivation to fix the new problems. Those problems somehow become the property of someone else.

Prayer rarely seems to be a solution to our heartfelt needs. The spiritual battle goes on daily against the current unseen ruler of this world. Like it or not, we are in the throws of a spiritual conflict. Our weapon isn’t a stick but the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We have been given every spiritual tool necessary to stand firm (not slipping), resist the attacks and pray! Eph 6:10-20.

Many of us find prayer a hard habit to maintain. Finding a stop-gap seems easier. Even the smallest (or elderly) can have a huge impact in the spiritual battle through prayer. Prayer seems so passive, yet it is the perfect solution for our needs. We become alert to see how God meets those heartfelt needs and we receive the peace we ultimately desire without the by-products of new problems.