Built on the Rock

Jesus said, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
"Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house." Luke 6:43-49

I have spent my life building sand castle and watching the wash away. I have spent thousands of hours as my children built sand castles that disappeared with the tide. I love the sand and the ocean and feel they are an essential part of my being. And I also know how necessary it is to be grounded in faith and love. I come from a long line of faithful people.I am blessed to have an incredibly faithful and loving family and group of friends. I know that when I am overwhelmed I can lean on others who will help me through. They show me what it is to be founded on rock solid, not moving, going nowhere kind of love.

Jesus is talking to his disciples about taking on the challenge of faithfulness and love. We can be selfish and shallow, lazy and self-serving or we can be faithful and grounded, loving and serving. One is the easy way and one is a daily challenge. God invites us to take on the daily challenge of love, a love which does the hard work of being consistent, building for the future, securing an safe place for all refugees and making enough so others may also thrive.

Today I ask God to help me be a strong and faithful presence for others. May our lives be so grounded in our Creator and our love so evident that others might find refuge and safety too.