Standing Water

On a recent shopping trip to Pampa, I noticed large pools of standing water in fields along the road. They were everywhere, mementos of a recent storm. They reminded me of the time I decided to make a pond in our backyard. It was a time in my life that was fraught with chaos and uncertainty. Everyday was a day filled with conflict and I found my soul craving a moment of peace. I convinced myself I would be able to find brief snippets of peace sitting beside a calm, still pool in my backyard. So I walked the property looking for the most level spot I could find. When I discovered the perfect spot, I began to dig. The boys and I worked for several days, preparing the spot for our pool. We dreamed about putting fish in it, we wanted those great big googly-eyed goldfish seen an Japanese restaurants. We talked about the kinds of plants we'd put around it and Nathan even wanted a palm tree to provide shade in the summer. (Did I mention we lived in Montana?) When the hole was deep enough, we carefully placed a newly purchased children's wading pool in it, leveling it ever so carefully. We placed large rocks around it in just the right places to be ascetically pleasing. Then with much anticipation, we filled the pool with water, and immediately sat down beside it to enjoy the stillness and peacefulness of the water. The boys quickly tired of this and ran off to play with their toys or swing on their swingset. I, however, sat by the pool for quite some time. I cleared my mind as I stared into the liquid calm. The stillness of the water stilled my soul and almost entranced me. For the next few days, I found myself making time to go and sit by the pool, absorbing all the peace it offered, craving the serenity of the stillness. It was not long before I noticed the water was not as clear as it had been and shortly after that, it began to exude a strange and not so pleasant smell. As the water began to stagnate, the peace once found there, became harder to find.
I have thought about that pool so many times----usually during chaotic times in my life when my soul is hungering for peace. During those times, I catch myself praying for stillness, asking God to make the water that is my life, still and calm. I find myself wanting to do nothing, nothing but sit still and be calm. I convince myself I should avoid those people in my life who wear conflict so proudly and those who cause my mind to spin and keep me on guard. I easily talk myself into withdrawing from anything and everything that would disrupt the calm. If I allow myself to sit by the pool for long, I find my prayer life stagnating and my relationships and spiritual walk begin to deteriorate-----and die.
In the movie, Air Force One, Harrison Ford, playing the president, makes this comment, "Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice." It is a powerful thought and a biblical one. Jesus said He came to bring a sword, to set family against family----all for the cause of the Gospel. God wants us to be a peaceful people, but He does not want us to be stagnate. Because Christianity is counterculture to materialism and carnality, there will be conflict. There can be no peace between darkness and light, between sin and right. We cannot just stand still, avoiding conflict for the sake of peace and at the expense of justice. There will always be ripples on the water. When I find my pool is still and calm for any length of time, I need to do a quick assessment and make some changes. With changes come the inevitable ripples in the water.
Our faith is active. Our faith is meant to convict and bring about change. It is fed by the Living Water that is Jesus Christ and His Word. In Him we have life ---but there is no life in standing water.

Neva