Over the last year, we have had an abundance of rain, especially the last couple of months. It has certainly made for some fun times around the house. As I write this, I’m looking out over a giant mud puddle, otherwise known as my back yard. You’ve heard the saying “when life hands you lemons, make lemon aide”. Well, when life hands you rain, play in the mud.
My kids love to play in the rain and in the mud. We try to keep an old pair of shoes around for each kid for “mud shoes”. Splashing in puddles and playing in the rain is so much fun. I remember playing in the rain when I was younger, getting “soaked to the bone”, as my mom would say. But it seems these days we are afraid to let our kids engage in such “risky behavior”. We protect our kids to the point they will never know some of the simple pleasures of life.
And heaven forbid if our home owners associations should see a little mud puddle or bare spot in the yard from the kids playing outside. You might get a letter or even a fine. My mom loved gardening and she always wanted a nice lawn. She spent time every day working in her flower beds and garden and keeping the weeds out of the yard. One thing I will always remember, is mom saying she would rather see the kids playing in the yard than have a nice lawn. She always said she would have a nice lawn after the kids left home. She believed and taught us that things are meant to be tools. A yard is meant to be played in, not looked at.
Too many times I get this wrong. I have some nice stuff, but I don’t want to use it or let anyone else use it very often because I don’t want it to get messed up. I guess maybe I’m afraid it will get broken and I’d have to go buy a new one. I forget that it is a tool that is meant to be used. I end up with a garage or closet full of some nice tools that are still in great shape because they have rarely been used. I also have a long list of unfinished projects.
Even my own life is a tool. It is meant to be used for a purpose. Too many times we get too concerned about how our life looks and what our friends or neighbors will say so we keep the tool safely tucked away so it doesn’t get scratched or a little muddy. We end up with a long list of things we wish we had done and a world full of unfinished projects.
My stuff, my house, even my own life are simply tools. Tools that I have to serve others and to grow God’s kingdom. So come on, lets go get a little muddy.
Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25: 24-30
Curtis
Well said. Before Alice and I retired and sold our house, I had a small wood working shop in the garage. I met regularly with a group of wood workers. We often talked about ways to keep our shops organized and clean. But it was also a frequent admonition from one of the older members of our little group, to remember, “A really clean shop is an unused shop. And an unused shop is a useless shop.” I visited his shop one day so he could show me a wood turning lesson. His shop was definitely used, and used well. He turned out some of the most beautiful wood work items I have ever seen.