When I was a boy growing up on a farm down in Georgia, we raised lots of cows and hogs. Technically, we were not farmers, as other than our personal garden, we really only harvested corn and hay in order to feed our livestock. The more proper term for what we did, therefore, was animal husbandry.
But whatever you call it, I learned early on that livestock had to be cared for daily – meaning mostly that they had to be fed and watered every single day. And my father and grandfather made it plain to me that it was my job to see that all this got done.
To facilitate this, they brought in a bulldozer and created a small retaining pond on the creek that ran through our property from which we could draw water for the various animals housed in pens and stables. From time to time, we also used the pond for irrigation purposes. But even as a small lad, I realized that the level of water in the pond had to be managed carefully.
Especially during the dry summer months, the pond needed time to replenish itself. Otherwise, it would be sucked dry. However, left to itself, without us overly taxing its content, it would eventually refill. The obvious lesson I learned back then was that we had to be careful not to take more out of the pond than it could sustain.
I share this because I have come to realize that the human spirit is much the same. As one who communicates regularly, through preaching, teaching, and writing, I know what it can be like to have one’s levels of creativity run low.
Like Elijah of old, who more than once rested and replenished his body and spirit before continuing the ministry God had given him, I will be taking a little time off over the next week or two in order to allow my own well of creativity to replenish itself. I will resume posting when my reservoir has once again been filled.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: Elijah rested multiple times in chapters 17-19 of the Old Testament book of I Kings. Cf.: https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/17.htm, and https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/19.htm.
But whatever you call it, I learned early on that livestock had to be cared for daily – meaning mostly that they had to be fed and watered every single day. And my father and grandfather made it plain to me that it was my job to see that all this got done.
To facilitate this, they brought in a bulldozer and created a small retaining pond on the creek that ran through our property from which we could draw water for the various animals housed in pens and stables. From time to time, we also used the pond for irrigation purposes. But even as a small lad, I realized that the level of water in the pond had to be managed carefully.
Especially during the dry summer months, the pond needed time to replenish itself. Otherwise, it would be sucked dry. However, left to itself, without us overly taxing its content, it would eventually refill. The obvious lesson I learned back then was that we had to be careful not to take more out of the pond than it could sustain.
I share this because I have come to realize that the human spirit is much the same. As one who communicates regularly, through preaching, teaching, and writing, I know what it can be like to have one’s levels of creativity run low.
Like Elijah of old, who more than once rested and replenished his body and spirit before continuing the ministry God had given him, I will be taking a little time off over the next week or two in order to allow my own well of creativity to replenish itself. I will resume posting when my reservoir has once again been filled.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: Elijah rested multiple times in chapters 17-19 of the Old Testament book of I Kings. Cf.: https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/17.htm, and https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/19.htm.