Conclusion: Myth Busted

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

In 1523, an English animal trainer named John Fitzherbert said, "The dog must be trained when he is a whelp, or else it will not be [trained]; for it is hard to make an old dog [find a new scent]." Today, we've summarized his insight into this well-known adage: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." It sounds good, but is it really true?

One of my two sons’ favorite shows on Netflex is a show that originates on the Discovery Channel called Mythbusters.  The goal of Mythbusters is to take timeworn adages like this one and see if they're true or false. So MythBusters' hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage decided to go after this one, too. They found a pair of aging Alaskan malamutes who didn't know a single trick in the book. Malamutes are known for their stubbornness. As 7-year-old canines, siblings Bobo and Cece were equivalent to a couple of 50-year-olds in dog years, arguably qualifying them for the "old dog" category. After four days of training, Bobo and Cece proved Fitzherbert flat wrong. Each could heel, sit, lie down, stay, and shake upon command from Jamie and Adam.

Their conclusion: Myth busted. You can teach old dogs new tricks.

As we head into the New Year no matter the rut you find yourself in you can make a change for the better. Take a minute today and ask God to give you the encouragement and strength to change from the old tricks and start new ones that will make you more like God wants for you to be.

Dear Lord, We thank You for the New year we are fast approaching. Help us to make that changes that You would have for us to make so that we would be more like You, so others will see You in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.