What's Underneath?
One of my favorite spots to refresh, regroup and rejuvenate
while getting a bit of exercise during my workday is a walk around Nottingham
Lake. It’s just a short distance from my office and the valley setting helps to
distract me from any cares or concerns. However this year the lake is not
really a lake, but a puddle.
The lake has a leak and they have drained the
water in order to make repairs during the summer season.
When the lake is filled it provides many people with hours
of enjoyment with paddle boards, fishing, kayaking, paddleboats and other types
of water activities.
With the beautiful setting and surroundings of the filled
lake you don’t stop to think of what is under the water, but now that it is
almost empty you can see all of the debris that has collected on the bottom of
the lake. Cement blocks, plastic bags, cups, cans and other miscellaneous items
are in the lake bed when the water is gone.
As a friend and I gazed at the scene, I explained to her
that it’s a lot like our lives. We might look okay on the outside. We can cover
a lot up with the masks that we wear, but if and when we are stripped bare it would
show that we all have a lot of junk that has gathered in our lives.
Just because we cover up the garbage it doesn’t mean that
its not still there. In order for us to keep the lake of our life clean and
healthy we need to first get rid of any stuff that is there that doesn’t
belong. We need to have a soul searching to see what we have allowed to collect
in our hearts that shouldn’t be there. Once we have done that we can begin
anew. Then when we have debris that flies our way we can grab it and get rid of
it before it settles in and pollutes our lives. It’s much easier to keep
something clean on a daily or weekly basis than to try to clean up years of
gunk at one time.
Lord show me the things in my life that are not pleasing in
Your eyes and help me to get rid of them and be filled with the things You want
to be there.
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come
near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
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