It Seemed Like Such a Good Idea

As you know, we just finished moving into our new house. Well, finished is not quite accurate, but that’s not what I want to talk about today! One of the things we thought was quaint the day we moved in, were the swallows building a nest near our front door. They are beautiful…and well, who doesn’t want to watch a pair of birds nesting and enjoy nature?

This girl. I have definitely changed my mind about how cute and fun it is. Now that the birds dive and swoop at me every time I walk to the front door. And when I am cleaning my front door for the seventh time. And when my plants are covered in white spots. Enough said?

What really clinched it for me was a trip to a home that had been taken over by barn swallows. There were 10 nests across the front of the garage (yes, 10, no exaggeration needed). The driveway was completely covered with, well, you know. And it was creepy having to run to the door with what felt like hundreds of birds dive bombing us. I decided right then, I was not going to let this happen at my home.

It made me think about other things that start out as quaint…or even comforting. A bad habit. A gossip session. A negative thinking pattern. Lack of discipline. In the beginning, it seems harmless enough. But if left unchecked, we could soon be overrun with angry birds swooping and diving at us, trying to keep us from getting where we are going.

I challenge you to think about your life and ministry this week. Is there an area where you have allowed something to develop or “nest”? I encourage you today, while it may be difficult, ask God to help you walk away from that thing in order to follow and serve him whole-heartedly.