God never fails. He’s an on-time God. Right?
But we often expect Him to show up
Exactly when we want, not when it’s right.
It’s a Slippery Slope to expect my timing and God’s
To always be at the same time.
Something happened this week to make me consider
How slippery life becomes when we don’t take charge
And mend the places where we could fail
The best thought? It’s not God’s fault. It’s mine.
This winter has been wet, but no wetter than usual
Our shepherds have wintered together
In a new, roomy, properly built House of their own.
Bales of straw and bags of soft cedar
Cushion the bones and keep critters at bay.
Winterproofed! No water or wind. Stretch! Rest! Safe!
Especially when the weather thunders across the land.
But, my oh my, the yard is a mess! The grass is torn up.
Their big old paws and nails rip it out of the ground
Running, digging, and sliding as they chase rocks and balls.
The wet and wild weather pounds the underlying soil
Before you know it, slippery slopes all around.
Why does it matter? They can slip and wreck their joints.
We can fall and not only suffer the ignominy of it all,
Our bones and muscles are already sore from tip-toeing around
If we fall, those Shepherds Pups are all over you!
They love you so much they all want to sit in your lap!
It’s not their fault that we give them so much love
But it’s our fault when we don’t teach them control
And it’s a slippery slope to create moments of failure.
And that’s my thought on this fine Spring morning.
It’s barely above freezing, and the rain has paused.
The dogs are fed and let loose to run the acreage.
But I must still walk gingerly through the slippery slope.
Listen, I’ve slipped down many a slope of a slippery mess
Frozen driveways, parking lots, iced-over ponds, and creeks.
Freshly waxed floors and wettened concrete.
There was a time the cardboard slipped under my feet,
I flew through the air, turning a 180, and landed on my forehead.
I’ve even been known to slip when there was nothing slippery around.
The Psalmist David talked about his slipping in several places
Listen to his words as he unloads his focus and slips the burden
From His shoulders to The Lord. The Lord? He has never slipped.
If you live better, you will have fewer slippery places to unload your dignity.
A Psalm of David.
Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.
Do not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the LORD.
(Psalms 26:1-12 NKJV)