Smooth Stones

Where I grew up in Colorado, and around here, rocks and rivers go together. Rivers polish and grind off the rough edges of rocks. The longer a rock is in the river, the smoother it becomes. 

I find it interesting that the Bible tells us that David went to the brook and chose five smooth stones to put in his pouch when he was going to face Goliath (1 Sam. 17:40). The rock that killed the giant was a smooth stone. Why did the Lord feel it was important to include that detail? Why not just say he picked up 5 stones? I think it must have to do with the aerodynamics of smooth stones. A jagged stone would not fly straight and true when David flung it from his sling. He wanted to make sure it would fly true to hit his target. He needed a stone that had spent a lot of time in the river getting all the jagged edges worn off.

What is it that does the polishing? The rocks on the banks are not being polished when they are out of the water. Oh, maybe a little by the wind and rain, but that is a much slower process. Polishing happens in the river. And, it is not the water itself that does the polishing. Tumbling around and bumping up against the other rocks and sand in the river is what makes the rough edges smooth. The water moves the rocks around causing the polishing. 

I’m reminded of Proverbs 27:17 which states: “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (A sharp blade has no rough edges.)

If the Holy Spirit is the river and we are the rocks, then He is the One moving us, resulting in the friction that ultimately polishes us and knocks off our rough edges. It can be a painful process, and one we don’t always understand at the time. Or should I say, one we rarely understand? Dealing with each other, those other rocks in the river, can cause us pain. But that pain often produces growth. Where else will we learn forgiveness, patience, and self control (to name a few) if we don’t encounter difficult relationships?

At first I was thinking that the smoothing process is always painful, but that is not true. All that togetherness of the rocks in the river rubbing shoulders, sharing experiences, moving together can also be a joyous thing. Personally, I think my rough edges have been smoothed out much more effectively by love and acceptance than by conflict. We were created for relationship, with God and with each other. Closeness, touching each other’s lives, while surrounded by God’s presence, polishes us.

We must trust Him and submit to the process. He is making us smooth so that we will be useful to Him in the slaying of giants in the land. We have been commissioned to disciple nations, and there are giants in the land that need slaying: greed, racism, poverty, disease, etc . . . We want to be well rounded and trustworthy, flying true when God pulls us out of His pouch and uses us. 

At the same time, do not think that you cannot be used by God because you are still rough around the edges! I like what Bill Johnson says: God wins no matter what hand He is dealt, even if it’s a pair of 2’s. After all, He used a donkey to speak to Balaam. God can use even the roughest, most jagged rock in His pouch when He so chooses. And there are even times when a jagged rock would be a better choice, depending on the intended use. Let God use you in whatever condition you are.

Lord, I pray you will be able to use me now, even though I am jagged and rough. I submit to Your polishing process with the hope that You will be able to use me to slay giants in the land.

Rocks

agate

 

One of the things I have learned to really enjoy while I’m on the river is rock hunting. A friend showed me what agates look like, and now I’m hooked. My family just rolls their eyes when I bring home my new treasures and tells me the shelf where I keep them is going to collapse. I admit, what to do with them all has become an issue. I recently bought a couple of large hurricane glasses hoping that they will be a good way to corral, and yet still be able to enjoy, my gems.

agate

 

I am constantly amazed how varied the rocks on the beaches are. Looking out over a gravel bar, all the rocks seem the same, but when you look closer, you see they come in all sizes, shapes, and colors – kind of like people. While most are plain and nondescript (rocks), others have intricate details, are multicolored, and are beautiful. Some have taken the form of things that used to be alive. Fossils are always fun to find, but mostly, I hunt for agates. I pick up, examine, and toss aside more rocks than I keep. Agates are the prize, but I have kept other rocks that are not agates because they are unique in some way that intrigues me.

agate

 

Agates come in many varieties, some of which I am still discovering. It takes patience and lots of time to find these jewels among the ordinary stones. There are many “look alikes” and “wanna be’s” out there. They may be covered with dirt and dust, or I might see just a small piece of one sticking up out of the sand, trying to hide. Or is it trying to be found? And then there are the ones you just walk up on that are showing the world their splendor, just waiting to be stumbled upon and rescued. A gift strategically placed.

agate

One thing is sure, when I find an agate, or what I think may be an agate, I take it to the river to wash it off and see what it looks like wet. Not only does water clean the dirt off, it also enhances its colors and reveals details that may have been hidden before. If I wasn’t sure before, the water will usually tell me if what I have in my hand is an agate or not. Another test I sometimes use is the light test. Some of the more translucent ones let the sunlight come through displaying their inner hidden glory.

agate

 

Christ . . .cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory . . . Ep. 5:25-27

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive. . .  Jn 7: 38-39

For the God who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  Ep. 4:6

I can see a cross in the center.

Jesus takes us like He finds us, covered with dirt, cleans us up with the water of His Spirit, and then shines His light through us. Just like rocks look better wet, so we look better with the Holy Spirit flowing through our lives. He does not want to cover us up so that we are hidden, as if He were ashamed of us. He wants to shine us up so the beauty He placed there when He created us is able to be seen by others. He wants to enhance our beauty to show off His creation. His light and His water are able to do that for us. We cannot do it on our own.

What a difference when light shines through.

 

Without water vs. with water