Mental Floss is a website that gives good – and odd – information, answering questions that we typically never think about. Two questions that come to mind are prompted by a sight we see throughout the warmer months – a dog with its head out the window, jowls and ears flopping in the wind, and a hint of a smile on the dog’s face. Why does the dog enjoy this and is it safe?
Let’s answer that first question. “Dogs generally love adventures, especially ones that get them outside and let them take in fresh air and explore their surroundings. Sticking his or her head out the window is a sensory bonanza for your pup. “It’s a highly stimulating experience for them—the scents, the feeling of the wind, all of the sights that they can see,” veterinarian Dr. Cathy Meeks told The Dodo in 2016.
“Dogs have more than 100 million sensory receptors in their noses (compared to the 6 million humans have). The part of their brain that’s devoted to processing scents is also about 40 times larger than that of a person’s. When dogs exhale through the slits in their nostrils, the air swirls around and introduces a whole host of new, interesting odors. Sticking their heads out of car windows (or any open windows) lets them really soak in all the smells of the outdoors.”1
Another reason given for this is that dogs have “10-20 times greater motion perception” than humans.2 The eyesight isn’t as clear when the object is stationary but put the object in motion – or the dog in motion – and their vision clears up. That brings me to a third question: how does anyone know this? You can’t ask the dog! It’s not like going to the optometrist and they ask, “Is it clearer with one or two; two or three; three or four?” I’ve never seen a dog wearing glasses to correct its vision, either.
Now, the second question that we do have an answer for is this: is it safe? Some would say that it’s not good for their eyes, but the veterinarians don’t seem to claim that as an issue of concern. If you grew up on a farm, you know the joy of riding in the bed of the truck. Like the dog, we took in the breeze created by the truck speeding down the road. It didn’t hurt our eyes. In fact, our eyes simply watered more to keep them hydrated, just like with the dog.
Instead, the issue is the same for us if we were to stick our heads out the window. Debris and bugs can hit us in the eyes. There’s also the possibility that if we stick our heads out too far, we could fall out of the moving vehicle. Or we could get conked on the head by a mailbox! If the driver hit a good bump, we could get ejected from the bed of the truck. These are the same things that make it unsafe for the dogs.
Just because something is fun to do doesn’t make it safe or right to do. That’s true with hanging our heads out the window. It’s also true in our spiritual lives.
Paul addressed this twice in 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” And, 1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” Though all things are lawful, Paul recognizes that they are not all beneficial (expedient) nor do they help to edify, building up 
the believer. In fact, we can be brought under the detrimental power of those things.
As Christians, we need to remember that good and better are the enemies of best. God’s best for our lives may mean that we deny ourselves of that which is good or better. Am I suggesting that we stop riding in the back of the truck when we can or letting Fido stick his head out the window? That’s your business.
But, in regards to spiritual matters, let’s desire those things that will help us excel in the work of the Lord and our love for Him. Paul leaves us with these words in Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
1https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-dogs-stick-their-heads-out-car-windows
2Ibid.
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