Repetition, Ruts, and Rocks

                                    From August 2012

2 Sam 22 (a psalm)

When the rains came, we all rejoiced. First, some really “oddly” timed ones that helped stop the horrific Waldo Canyon blaze. (Thank you merciful Savior!) Then the “normal” rhythm of Colorado Summers kicked in, and we got dumped on almost every afternoon for a couple weeks. (Thank you Faithful Creator!) Refreshing in so many ways. Cleaned the air and greened up the mountains. By August we’d had so much rain that the fire bans were lifted in our county. Happy campers and woodsmen rejoiced.

Unfortunately, the majority of roads in our mountain county are not paved. Including those to our home. Most notably about 100 yards of “owner-maintained” driveway. Some of it rather steep. As water hits the packed surface of rocky soil, it heads downhill; taking the path of least resistance. Picking up speed it gathers dirt, sand, and gravel as it goes, and eventually creates erosion; Grooves of habit to which all future storm water will gravitate, and thereby increase the ruts.

This year, these ruts got to such a depth (12” deep and 12” wide) that I became concerned for some incoming guests. Visitors coming from the Mid-West for a much needed break in our cool, quiet mountains. I assumed they’d come in a sedan or mini-van (rather than an SUV most common in Colorado), and could easily bottom-out in these treacherous, tire-sucking, canyons.

I asked a few mountain buddies what they do about driveway erosion. One guy in the next valley- who runs a large retreat center- said, he borrows a tractor, and pushes dirt back up the hill and into the ruts several times a year. But even if packed down, the rains just keep washing the back-fill away. An older, nearby neighbor said he tosses fist-sized rocks from around his lot into the grooves. This seems to slow down the water, and if he gets enough of them to nearly fill the ruts, even his wife’s low-slung sedan can traverse the area without damage. His methodical method of rock placement worked!

I can picture my retired friend, taking his dogs out at various times through his sedentary days. Casually picking up a few rocks each time, and rolling them down the driveway until they land in a rut. A fun cross between Bocce Ball and Corn Hole! They fill up eventually. Well, I don’t have that kind of lifestyle, and my guests were already on their way! I needed a faster fix. I bought a ton of 2-4” Pikes Peak granite, and spent a day and a half shoveling, kicking, and even hand-placing stones into the long, deep ruts of our driveway.

In my slow, meditative Bible reading, the passage I arrived at this morning was David’s psalm as recorded in 2 Samuel 22. God is our rock. A refuge from our enemies. David the warrior knew well the role of rocks, and cliffs, and caves in escaping his enemies. But “Who is my enemy,” I wondered. No humans that I can think of. But there is the Enemy of my Soul. Jesus has conquered him, and those in Christ are empowered to be victorious over all the Devil’s schemes. But how does that work in the nitty-gritty of each day?

Quite often, The Enemy’s schemes against me are demonstrated through repetitive negative messages delivered by the world, or even my own mind. They are not uplifting, God-honoring, or strengthening. They tend to lead my heart downhill. And like water on dirt, they eventually develop ever-deepening paths of their own; completing their route to failure (doubt, discouragement, despair) more quickly each time. Common encouragements from loved-ones, or “positive thinking” may cover the negative emotion for a time, but the next “rain” washes that fluff away in a flash.

But God- as our rock and refuge- has a more substantive response to our mental erosion. His truths are immutable. His character impeccable. His love for us unshakable. These are the stones we need to place into our mental ruts!

So as I methodically repaired the canyons in my driveway today, I thought about more intentionally putting the Truths of God into my mind and life. What lies have created what seem like permanent paths in my thinking? What unhealthy habits seem indelibly etched on my life? Instead, what are the Truths of God, and replacement-behaviors He has created to block – even repair- those patterns? What a great way to spend a day “managing” God’s creation- both that around me, and that within me.