Dusty and Clean

8:45. I looked down at my phone, which was in my hand from just sending a text. It lit up with a picture and a name familiar, comforting, and invaluable to me. But...given that 1) Both of us are self professed haters of the phone 2) it was 8:45, a time both of us are usually winding down, preparing to sleep, and 3) these times are hard, I was sure something was up on the other end of that line.

Cue the teachable moments.

For the sake of confidence, which I value and hold in high regard, I will share absolutely nothing of the contents of the 8:45 conversation. What I will say is that 1) You can say a lot in 30 seconds, and even more in 47 minutes 2) Your life is created to mark and be marked, for better or for worse. In so much as it is in your power, mark for the better, every day 3) The right thing is sometimes the rough thing, don't let that deter you. People came from a dusty place, and we're all dingy sometimes. However, let it be a comfort to you that we were all created in image of a beautiful, merciful God. He loves us, and in our imperfections, in our dust, He has established righteous and mighty purposes.

When someone says something to you, before you assimilate their darts, their dust, or even their compliments, into the sphere of things you choose to believe as true, consider the source. Before drinking the water, consider the source of the spring. Some people, by their own choice, or their own ignorance, consistently spew dirty water. You have a choice here. You can gulp it down, thereby filling your own system with sediment and soil, or you can decline it.  Here's the thing: Water is intended to give life, not do the opposite. Dirty, murky water does nothing except hide the true beauty of water source, and taint all who swim in, or sip it, with dirt, and sometimes, even disease.
Don't be a dirty water source, even if people, with their mud filled waters, are trying to get you to bite, to get you to bow, to cause you to cower, to turn you to dust.

You were not appointed for this, and sometimes, though their actions may fill you with ache and indignation, the most righteous thing to be is silent. This does not mean for a second that I am telling you to stand defenseless while people stomp you. What I am saying is that when you argue a point with someone, you're showing them a different side of the equation, which is to say *at least in theory* that their opinions have some sort of merit. When you stand silent, you don't even give that opinion the time of day by attempting to defend your own.

You,  precious heart, are not defined by dirty water, or even dust, but rather by blood. A blood that atoned you long ago, and transcends every birth, every bad childhood, every limit, every scar...You are mighty, and though you may be dusty, you are clean.

Rise up and shine.

"May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." Daniel 6:16


~Dusty and Clean
Courtney