There are certain tasks that we know are necessary but it seems to take forever before we get to them. Flossing teeth, changing the oil, cleaning out gutters, cleaning shotguns and giving the dog a bath just to name a few.This afternoon I performed one of those tasks; cleaning a shotgun. As I stripped down the Benelli (which by the way can be done with no tools and apparently without any instructions) I was shocked to see the amount and variety of debris that had accumulated within its inner workings. There were bits and pieces of sand, leaves, muck, weeds, grit and bark from every hunt since I last cleaned it ten months earler.
Another to-do item that I was able to put a checkmark beside this week was cleaning out my truck. It was amazing. Shotguns shells (non toxic, dove shot and a couple turkey loads), rifle shells (at least two different calibres), muzzeloader bullets and primers, maps, breakfast and granola bars, various lures, hooks and weights (egg, pyramid, bullet, splitshot, you name it), a leatherman tool and folding knife, a flashlight and a headlamp, wader repair kit, some leaders, bug repellant, first aid kit, regulations booklets (from several states), turkey and duck calling instructional cds, ear muffs, various straps, cords and rope, binoculars, a rain poncho and a goose call.Occasionally, like that dirty shotgun or the cab of that pickup, my life will get cluttered. Usually this stems from getting priorities out of balance. Maybe I become entangled by a sin, distancing myself from the Father's will. Sometimes I will get a little OCD over a work project and neglect my marriage or possibly a conflict with a coworker, friend or family member damages a relationship. It takes a spirtual spring cleaning to get these things under control. Prayer, reading the Word, sharing with an accountability partner, fasting and earnest worship are all helpful in eliminating the accumulation and getting back on track.
My prayer for each of us is that we will allow God to clean the accumulation from our lives.
"...if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." I John 1:7
"...if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." I John 1:7
