Moving Snow

If I had a picture to show you how much snow I had to move on Sunday morning you may reconsider your complaints on how much snow you get where you live. I have without a doubt have moved more snow early in the mornings than most people move in the lower 48 all winter long. I'm not complaining, partly because it's a good workout, partly because I love snow, and partly because it has opened my eyes to some relevant life issues...

What could moving snow have to do with relevance of life issues? Well anything we put our hands to in life is relevant to the issues we face. There is nothing we do that should be done without dedication and resolve for purpose. Beyond that moving the amounts of snow that I did on just Sunday morning to get the parking lot cleared at our church, allowed an opening for a thought to come crashing into the forefront of my mind.

That thought was this: With every thrust of the oversized shovel that resembles a huge pankace scoop can be compared to my spiritual life. The reality is, any act we perform can be directly linked to our spiritual condition. I mean, there wasn't happiness to be up at 7 am moving thousands of pounds of snow while the wind blew drifts into the exact place I had just cleared. There wasn't joy for the service I was doing for my church and the people who would walk through the doors of the church that morning. In fact, I was a little irritated that the possibility existed that no one would show up for church at all making the burning eyes and muscles a waste of time.

Then I thought, which may very well have been the Holy Spirit, this is the same thing God does for us. He continually moves the things out of the way that keep us from serving Him faithfully. When every area He has cleared is filled in by another drift of mess to distract us, He patiently removes it again. He clears the path that we allow to get filled in. He is gentle and precise with his removal process. He cuts a perfect path for us to follow during the storms of life and lights them for us so we can see clearly. He needs no heavey coat, gloves, or stocking hat. There is no need for coveralls and big heavey boots, nor does any sweat brake and run down his face. His eyes don't burn from the blowing mess. He clears the mess from the storm out of the way time and time again. Yet we allow drifts to fill the cleared areas making it all the more possible for us to get lost on our way out the door.

I do believe in the relevance of all our actions to teach us something we need to know about our lives. Why do we get lost? Why do we get burned out, stressed out, and desire to roll over throwing the covers over our head and sleep through our time with Him..? Because from time to time it's easier than giving the effort to have a relationship that willl help keep the path cleared. It's not easey to moves snow and clear a path. Especially where I live. Drifts of over five feet on top of the 10 inches that fell, makes for a heavey load. But our hearts condition as we complete the task is more important than the task it'self.


Blessings,

Mike III, AKA: Big Daddy