Under Pressure

Although I created this site a few weeks ago, I’ve not had focused time to sit down and write. It’s crazy how quickly things can change.

Because interest rates are tremendously low, we are refinancing our house. I’m taking care of a few things that needed to be done anyway, but having an appraisal looming has been the fire I needed to get them done. One of those items was to pressure wash various areas of the driveway/sidewalk/fence. If you ever THINK you are gross and just want to confirm it….pressure wash something.

As you can see from the photo above, there is a clear separation from the ground that had been pressure washed and the ground that had not. However, underneath the years of caked up dirt rested the same sidewalk, gutter and driveway that was brand new just a few years ago. The purpose of it didn’t change. However, “life happened to it” and, as it was exposed to the elements of nature, it got covered up.

I don’t think it was coincidental that I was pressure washing my house TODAY. Why is that? Because our world is in a crisis right now. Life as we know it has ceased because everything has changed. No longer are we getting up in the morning to get ready for work; instead, we are getting up in the morning and questioning when we will be able to work again. We are (supposed to be) confined to our houses, to our own environments, to bring an end to the spread of a virus our world is ill-equipped to fight.

This past Sunday, my pastor challenged us to read and pray Psalm 91- out loud – each day. Why? Because in the midst of all of this uncertainty, we need assurance that SOMETHING…..and someONE…..is certain.

As I held that pressure washer, I watched as water that had a whole lot of pressure behind it uncovered what had been “hidden” for years. Right now, I see what we are experiencing as a pressure washing of sorts. As I continued on down the sidewalk, Cody Carnes’ song, “Nothing Else,” played through my earphones. I was broken as I cleaned…..because I felt like I saw a visual of “things” being stripped away so that the words to that song became more than pretty……but that they became true.

Yes, this virus is scary.
Yes, we are at a loss for knocking this out.
Yes, the consequences…..physically and financially……have been and will continue to be tremendous.
What I saw on that sidewalk today was a picture of me. Of the typical American Christian. Of the person who can easily sing the words “I just want You – nothing else, nothing else, nothing else will do…” while I go on about my day, doing my thing, relying on my abilities and work ethic to make sure my needs are met.

The dirt got stripped off of the sidewalk today. A layer got stripped off of my eyes today as well. I truly don’t know what tomorrow holds. I don’t know what my job will look like based on when students can return to school. I don’t know what money will be left in a retirement account that’s been invested in for a very long time. What I DO know is that I have been placed in a position to learn how to TRUST HIM to be who He says He is. That’s scary….because I’ve been pretty comfortable trusting in me. Lord, let me be truthful when I say, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

Pressure washing uncovers so much…..and not on just the sidewalk.