The dryer almost caught 🔥 —a bit too much like my life! 😕
God sent me a reminder this past week: it came through a pile of damp clothes and a broken dryer. I love how random it can be; He will use just about anything to care for us.
"Ears to hear and eyes to see," that's the phrase Jesus used.
The Dryer as a Metaphor—
I'm thankful he is a God who still communicates with his people. My parents own a beach house in Ocean City, NJ which they rent out every summer. This year we reserved it for a week in July; almost the entire family took time off to come. As you know, the washer and dryer spin non-stop at the beach. With one particular load, the buzzer went off after a second cycle but the clothes were still damp 🤔. Fortunately, we detected the problem before our next renters arrived.
The situation was a reality check when the guy from Uhlmer’s Appliance shuffled out of the laundry room, beads of sweat on his brow, and a look of grave concern,
“I just took a bucket-full of sand out of your vent.”
An entire bucket?? That was shocking in itself; what was more disturbing was his next sentence,
“All the safety systems shut the dryer down. You should have had a fire.”
To say the least, we were relieved and grateful. He went on to tell us that sand is similar to cement. "It collects and compacts," he said. "Nothing can break through."
😳
More often than not, real-life situations serve as metaphors for the state of our lives. The dryer had me in a state of reverie. Have you ever interacted with someone whose “vents are blocked”? Scattered, always stressed, unable to focus and listen, edgy with anger and impatience, blind spots, checked-out, addicted, numb, or hyper-busy?
Have you ever been at this point? All safety systems shut down?
I have been here more times than I like to admit. Even just two days ago!
Too much sand packed up won’t allow anything to run correctly.
I have to remind my clients (and myself!) that "maturity does not come with age."
We have to choose a lifestyle of growth. With so much noise, too many hours on a screen, entertainment overload, and stuffed schedules, our vents become blocked. Self-awareness and sensitivity to the Spirit shut off. I think it is safe to say, the lack of attentiveness to personal growth, repentance, and self-awareness has become the norm for most of us living in the 21st Century.
And this state is dangerous. Not only for us, personally, but also for those around us whom we love.
So here is where "The Reverie" comes in.
What is it?? My new bi-weekly email designed to keep the vent clear and free!
(Dawn's short, bi-weekly reflection: Like a 🧭 for your ♥️ and an ⚓️ in the 🌪️)
When was the last time you took an inventory of your soul, habits, and default settings? Do you find it challenging to sit still and make room for self-reflection? Incorporating stillness, reflection, and honesty in our lives can seem more difficult and scary than it is. As a matter of fact, living with eyes closed is far more scary! 🙈
This is what I have given my life to:
I help people choose intentional growth that cultivates humble self-awareness, sincere and meaningful relationships with others, and honest, persevering connection with God.
Together, we will identify who you want to be, how you want to live your life, and what tends to get in the way.
The majority of people stop growing and therefore, stop living, you don’t have to be one of them.
As Richard Foster said,
“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”
Here's to living with eyes open and ears alert, friends!
FURTHERMORE,
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