There. Now That's Done.

Have you ever set up a swimming pool?  We have one of those soft sided pools that we set up in the summer and put away for the winter.  Early in the summer we get it out, rake the ground, spread the liner, look for new leaks, set up the frame and fill it. Some people pay to get the fire department to fill it.  We just fill it ourselves from the hose.  It takes a few days.  Then we put in the chemicals and wait for the Sun to warm the water.  It's a big project and when it's done there is that sense of accomplishment when I say, "There.  Now that's done." But I know that I am just getting started.

Like many things, owning a pool is an ongoing project.  There  is the testing and the chemicals and the skimming and the cleaning.  Then as the summer goes on there is the inevitable battle with algae.  Finally there is take down time which is draining and cleaning and folding and storing.  Pool's are not the only thing like this, the pool happens to be on my mind now because it's fall and I am involved in the put away project.  There are many things in life that are just ongoing projects.

Our walk with God is a bit like the pool.  There is the initial set up, we learn about Jesus and accept salvation.  We get the sense of "There, that's done." We feel renewed and sharp.  But like the pool, it is only the beginning.  We need to keep cleaning and accept Grace every day.

Just like the pool, when we start walking with God everything feels fresh and clean.  Without the daily cleaning with Grace out lives become funky.  We can't think of Grace as a one time fix, but rather it is an ongoing project.  We all need a good Grace cleaning every day.