ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 14, 2026
My yard had needed to be mowed for four or five days, yet between rain and schedule, I kept on delaying. So yesterday morning, I got out early and got it done. How is it that you take some off the top, and your yard goes from looking jungle-like to really good? Of course, it will probably be nearly jungle-like in a week or so when I get around to mowing again. But for a few days, it will look really good. There are times in life when we’ve convinced ourselves that moving something from a mess to better is going to take so much work that we avoid it at every cost. Yet maybe it’s not as much work as we thought. I think about the changes I’ve made in my life, including certain spiritual practices that I’ve tried to make more a part of my daily routine, and they’ve all started with something pretty small. Don’t get the wrong impression—I didn’t move from sinner to saint with one or two changes. In fact, that wasn’t even how I looked at it. It wasn’t even about becoming a better Christian. It was about finding little things to strengthen my relationship with God, the One who can help make me a better person, better spouse, better friend, better minister, and maybe a better follower of Jesus. Just an hour with the mower and the weed eater, and the yard looks pretty darn good. Just an hour of worship and fellowship, and one’s life can find new depth, hope, strength, peace, and purpose. Of course, in both cases, consistency is important.
For the many practices, along with opportunities for growth and connection, I give you thanks as you are the One, Patient and Merciful God, who continues to invite me to be the best version of myself. Amen.
