Jan
2
2015
Between the Boards
Posted in Salvation 4 Comments
I look out on our empty deck and know that it is winter.
In about five months, the furniture will be brought out of the basement.
The glass-top table will be positioned in the center of the deck.
The umbrella will be set up over the table to shield us from the sun.
It is the glass-top table I am remembering.
It was one of those late spring days that compel you to open all of the windows.
A day to open the windows and let the cool breeze blow through the house.
Everything smells as fresh as the outdoors.
It was on one such day, it happened.
As quick as a flash, the sun seemed to hide behind a cloud.
The breeze turned into a contrary wind.
The contrary wind became stronger by the minute.
I looked out my kitchen window as I heard a loud noise.
The umbrella had been lifted from its stand and was laying in the yard.
The surface of the table was no longer there.
Beneath the metal frame of the table, lay thousands of pieces of glass.
As quick as everything happened, it seemed to then go in reverse.
The cloud moved away; the wind became a breeze again.
My table still lay in pieces.
My umbrella was still on the ground.
My youngest daughter and I went out with a broom and a dust pan.
We gathered many of the larger pieces, wearing work gloves so we would not get cut.
We used my husband’s shop-vac to get up the remaining pieces of glass.
We looked around the deck at a job well done.
Less than a week later, we had a picnic.
A new table was found and purchased before the day our guests were to arrive.
At the picnic, I told the story of the wind and the umbrella and the table.
I praised my daughter for a job well done.
The words had not left my mouth before one of our guests reached down.
As he came up, he was holding a large piece of glass that had gotten stuck.
Lodged between the boards, the piece of glass remained.
As I looked, really looked, I saw quite a few pieces lodged tightly between the boards.
They pieces of glass seemed to shine in the sun.
We had done a good job cleaning up the glass.
However, some pieces remained hidden.
We had missed quite a lot of the debris we thought we had thrown away.
We will be taking down our Christmas tree very soon.
Even though the tree was constantly watered, the needles still fell.
The tree has been in our living room, which has hardwood floors.
I know that when the tree is carried out of the house, needles will be everywhere.
I will sweep them up first.
Then I will go over the place with my vacuum to get up the rest.
I will sit back satisfied for a job well done.
Well done until, the sun shines through the porch doors.
Inevitably, there will be needles that are lodged between the boards.
Needles that are hidden until the light shines on them.
Needles that I thought I had cleaned up.
Needles that had the tenacity to stay.
Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:8-10)
We are like the pieces of glass and the pine needles.
We clean ourselves up, quite proud of a job well done.
To the casual observer, we look pretty good and very put together.
Until the Light shines.
When the Light shines on us, we see that our good is really not so good.
We see that debris is lodged in places that are now exposed.
Well out of sight, the debris is still there nonetheless.
Only the Light can bring the debris to the surface.
The Light is not a neon sign that flashes so we are ridiculed and shamed.
The Light illuminates our true condition.
It shows us the true state of our souls.
Only when the Light shines, can we see what needs to be made clean.
A quick sweep with a dustpan and brush will not do it.
A sweeping with a strong whiskbroom will not suffice.
Only the Light shining on us, illuminating the things we thought we hid, will do.
Only then will we be made thoroughly clean.
We have much that is hidden between the boards of our lives.
We have debris that has been lodged there for years.
All it takes is a Light and a strong Hand to remove the broken pieces.
We will be amazed when we see how much has been lodged there.
Let the Light of the World do a thorough cleaning of your life.
Let the Light of the World illuminate the debris you thought you removed.
Just because it is not seen does not mean it is not there.
It has been lodged there for quite a while.
What is between the boards of your life?
Is it time for a thorough cleaning?
Allow the Light to illuminate.
Only then can what is hidden finally be revealed.
Wow! Between The Boards! Yes, it’s time to start cleaning. Thank you Lord, for your light. Always there, always ready, always needed. I love you.
Amen, Florence.
You and me both!
Gina
Hmmmm … It is time for a thorough cleaning. I’d better get started!
You and me both, Cathy…a great way to start the New year.
Regina