My husband and I have a fierce love for travel! Through our years together, we have been blessed to see a small portion of God’s beautiful creation, both at home and abroad, but perhaps our greatest love and passion is for the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Over the past 35 years, we have returned to Southwestern Colorado time after time, to rest our weary souls and to contemplate God’s plans and words to us going forward. We love “jeeping,” and while there, it is not uncommon on any given day to find us sitting at the edge of a breathtaking lake, river, or stream with blankets, Bibles, books, and picnic lunch in tow. Some of our greatest times in the Lord’s presence have been captured in the San Juan Mountains. It is there that we have the opportunity to “Be still and know that HE is God” (Psalms 46:10). It is also there, that we have opportunity to ponder over God’s Word and receive instruction and enlightenment; thus the birth of this musing.
Sitting at the edge of a body of water can be mesmerizing. I love to look at the plethora of beautiful rocks, both in the water and along its edge, and to think about their journey to get where they are. From whence did they originate? How big were the boulders from which they broke off? What obstacles have they encountered along the way that have shaped and changed their appearance? Sometimes, I pick up a beautiful rock with jagged edges all over and know that perhaps it has just begun its journey of erosion and abrasion, which will ultimately change its appearance. Silt and other particles are just now being torn away and carried downstream. Nearby, I may encounter another beautiful rock with its smooth top peeking just above the water’s surface. When I pick it up, however, I notice that underneath the rock, there are still some jagged edges that must undergo more weathering. This rock is a little farther along in its journey than the first rock, but not yet completely smooth. However, if I continue my search, I will most assuredly find that one beautiful rock that is totally and completely smooth. It has been transported countless miles, through all kinds of weather, all the while being bumped, prodded, and rolled over by various obstacles in its path. Each obstacle, though, served its purpose in altering the rock’s ultimate appearance, thus making it “perfectly” smooth.
My Personal Musings From God’s Word:
As Christ-followers, can each one of us be likened to one of the beautiful rocks found in the river bed? Some of us are just starting our spiritual journey, allowing the fresh, life-giving waters of Jesus Christ to flow over us and wash away our jagged edges, ridding us of the silt of sin. Others of us may be a little farther along in our journey with Christ. We have been partially smoothed (usually of those “small surface sins” first), but if we are lifted up and turned over, underneath there are still a lot of jagged edges. That’s when we need to be laid back gently in the water, “bottom-up,” so the Lord can clean and smooth our “underneath side” that others cannot see. Finally, though, we should all aspire to allow the waters of forgiveness and grace to wash over us until we are able to stand on the smooth, solid rock of Jesus Christ, our perfect Savior and Lord.
In the words of Psalms 46:10 (NIV)
