The clouds have been building in my town this week, threatening to take us from hot and humid to just plain sauna. We had gotten a few outbursts of rain over the preceding days, but not the big one. With so much 'talk' and so little delivery, my son and I headed to a friend’s house this weekend to help her change some outdoor light bulbs. "It will only take 10 minutes", she assured.
I was watching my son replace the first set of floodlights, when I noticed above the corner of the house a pile-up of pine needles in the gutter. They were tucked just behind a tall metal guard, peeking their tips into view. It was right where a cornice joined the main part of the roof, creating a pathway for the water to drain into the gutter pipe. My friend had a little dam going up there, right in the way of the main flow.
Knowing my son would take any chance he could to climb on the roof and make this process even a little fun, I said, "Would you like Ben to clean out that gutter while he’s there?" His eyes lit as he assured her that he could clean it more thoroughly from up top, than from the ladder as she suggested. So, with trash bag in hand, he began collecting needles and gunk while my friend and I chatted. The next time I glanced up, the trash bag was almost full.
"Wow, there was more than I thought", I said.
As we caught eyes, my friend chuckled and responded, "Kind of reminds you of sin doesn’t it. It’s always more than you think that’s blocking you up."
It was then that the rain began to come. Heavy, thudding drops increasing by the second started pounding down, making good on all it had promised. As Ben scampered off the roof, and we made our way to the other corner of the house, all that was running through my head was an arrested, "You’re not kidding."
Ironically, but in no way coincidentally, the night before was one of those nights. I found myself lying awake sometime in the 3s (o’clock). Actually, I love the peace of the middle of the night – no light, no noise, no schedule. It is rich for encounter with God. As usual, my current issue of concern buoyed to the surface of my mind, and I started thinking. Ruminating through layers of the dilemma, I invited the Lord into the process, "Lord, what is my part of this, the part I need to focus on?" I was tempted to declare I had heard him wrong, when he clearly impressed on me the word "pride."
But I couldn’t… he was right… no denying it.
So, I went through scenarios, agreeing that that certain reaction was laced with the pride of self-protection, and that that "discernment" was really judgment of the motive of someone’s heart. It just kept coming – not harsh like condemnation’s unique brand – but steady illuminations and more than I thought. It revealed an attitude that began developing years ago concerning this building, gloomy storm.
I don’t remember how it ended. I was relieved by the return of sleep, leaving who knows how many sequels to come. But there was a gracious commentary on it the next morning. It was illustrated before me that getting the blockage out now, even if it’s more than I think, will make way for things to happen as they should when the rain comes. The Lord is speaking – of conviction, repentance, grace and glory – are we listening?
"Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words."
Isaiah 55:5a MSG
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