Monday, May 4, 2009

Cleaning Upstairs

Read: Psalm 51

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10


This summer we needed more room for hay in our haymow. I knew we needed to clean out the one end that had served as a catch-all for twelve years. One rainy day my eleven-year-old son and I tackled the job of sorting the things piled there. We found anything from old egg cartons to bicycle parts and more.

"Dad," my son asked, "what about this, and this?"
"I guess it is trash," I answered.
"This looks good yet. Shall we keep this?" he asked.
"Yes," I agrred, "I think we can still use that."

Finally, after sorting for an hour and a half or two hours, we had three one-horse wagon loads of trash to get rid of. The things we considered useful were re-stacked to one side. My son and I stepped back to observe the neatness of the haymow. My son said, "Well, Dad, it looks as if only about one fourth of the things that were up here any value."
"Yes,", I chuckled, :I guess so."

This comment caused me to do some deep thinking in the days that followed. How is it with my "upstairs" - my mind? What things do I keep stored there? Are they valuables in the sight of God, or is it mostly trash such as wrong attitudes, petty grievances, selfishness, wrong motives, and hurt feelings? Are we willing to get rid of this trash, or do we enjoy wallowing around in it? Too often we hang on to these thoughts, thinking they have some value. In reality, they are cluttering space that God would like to occupy.

Why not give God the broom and let Him do the cleaning?

Joseph Yoder - Rushsylvania, OH

When it is time to clean the "upstairs," let God do the sorting.


Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Devoted Mate

Read: Mark 10:1-12, Ephesians 5:22-33

What therefore God has joined together; let no man put asunder. - Mark 10:9


My sons and I were working at a farm when we noticed a beautiful pair of swans swimming leisurely and contentedly on a pond. Soon the gander (male swan) ascended skyward, circling round and round, honking earnestly, and glancing down at his mate hoping his dream would come true.

The farmer told us that the goose (female swan) was injured and could not fly. The injury healed but left her handicapped. Her spouse left her side daily to fly overhead, looking back and forth, hoping she would still one day join him in flight. The gander's desire increased when the migratory season approached.

"Oh, if only she could join me, and we could fly to a warmer climate for the winter as other couples do," he seemed to say. But knowing that she too longed to be a normal spouse who could meet his expectations, he would descend again with a splash to resume his role as "husband" and to remain a faithful companion for life. Though disappointed, he would stay with her, sacrificing his own delights, and enduring the cold north winters. He never considered deserting her.

Many humans, married couples, reflect back when life together was in some ways more complete, more fulfilling, and more desirable. The changes may have come from the aging process, from an accident, or from sickness. Many have deserted their spouses because of selfishness. Isn't absurd that people would be less devoted and committed to each other than a pair of feathered fowl?

Jesus said, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her (Mark 10:11).
Willis Haltman - Carlisle, PA


Christians are heirs together of the grace of life.