Prominent business leader shares “Lessons Learned from my Dogs”
Tobin Cassels, president of Southeastern Freight Lines addresses CIU students. (Photos by Kierston Smith)
By Ireland Kost
CIU Student Writer
Two pet dogs, Cooper and Millie, reminded the Columbia International University student body that the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways.
Tobin Cassels, CIU Board member and president of Southeastern Freight Lines, presented a Chapel service “Learning from my Dogs.” Being an avid lover of his pets, Cassels presented the school with lifelong lessons, all taken from his pups.
The animals, he remarked, must wonder why he disappears when he’s at work all day. Why would he leave them? He imagined the pets saying, “Until we get answers, let’s not trust Tobin, obey him, or love him.” Through a humorous analogy, Cassels made a serious point: people doubt God in the same way.
“Dogs know what they know and accept what they can’t know,” Cassels said. “People often demand answers from God instead of trusting him.”
Using Deuteronomy 29:29, Cassels reminded the students that God has hidden some things from humanity while revealing what we need for faith.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
Even though he is the president of a large business, Cassels is impressed with the urgency of staying humble. He said Psalm 103:15-17 reminds us of how short life is in comparison to God’s eternity.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children
Cassels said that though people tend to puff up with personal pride, life is short and “death has a way of limiting (human) lordship.”
In conclusion, Cassels showed a sweet video of his pets jumping up in sheer joy at the sight of his daughter.
“Dogs know how to respond when they come into the presence of their master,” Cassels said.
“I want to be more like Cooper and Millie.”
Hear the entire Chapel message on CIU’s podcasts.
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