Joy in the Muck…

This week the 50+ year old septic field at the cabin gave up the ghost, and we discovered the hard way exactly what happens to septic tanks when a forest grows up around it.

Tree roots, as it turns out, LOVE septic tanks. Not reciprocated, of course… but at least now we know how to get our plumbing speaking to us again. So I’m a happy camper.

As we were going through all this, a friend texted to let me know that her job interview did not pan out. It has been a hard road for her, and my heart went out to her because she was trying so hard to keep the faith that God has a plan for her. Which, of course, he does.

And sometimes that plan is to let us stumble a bit until we are willing to dig out the roots that are holding back our progress. (Like what I did there?)

God cares about our material needs — whether we have a job, or a warm place to sleep, or a way to tend to other bodily needs. He ALSO cares about weeding out the habits and character flaws that are robbing us of our joy. Keeping us from loving. Preventing us from fulfilling the purpose for which we were created. And so, sometimes he allows the occasional stumbling block to impede our path. So we can see the roots that need to go.

Jesus, help me to stay rooted in you. And root out of me anything holding me back from your plan.