Uncomfortable Signs

Life has its share of ups and downs, highs and lows and we know it can be a quick change from one to the other. I have found that it only takes a glimpse of a few signs that can switch my mood abruptly. One of those is the sign above.

My heart sinks as I wander into my aquasize class to be greeted with “this pool has been poop free for ____ days”. It makes one second guess their decision to come that day… or any day because what if “today’s the day?”

Why do we need reminders that we should not be going into a public area if there is a chance you might have an “oops”? Is that not common sense? Most adults recognize their bodily signs… don’t they? Do not be going near a pool or hot tub if you don’t.

A child under 2-3 might have some kind of oops. But the following signs are geared to adults and almost take my urge for swimming away.

What do you mean “diarrhea?!” I had never thought of that in a pool, I always thought little people. It was a total “wow” moment for me.

How do you figure out if you are floating with feces? I mean seriously, I am there for an exercise class, trying to keep up and not drowning or die is my main priority!

Maybe this leaves you uncomfortable, it sure makes me uncomfortable but it also helps me to look at life realistically. We can be interacting with feces and not just in a public pool.

The world it seems is unfolding like a huge messy explosion. Everywhere we turn more “poop” news turns up. Not a day goes by where we are not hearing about the “fall” of another leader, famous person, or even a country. It is like swimming in filth. What are we to do? Well some of us like to help share the news, we lock on to the failure and spread that stuff far and wide.

How easy we stray from “apart from the grace of God goes I.”

I think it could be helpful to put out a couple tips for pools and world wastefest!

1) keep your mouth closed

Great tip for pools and gossip.

Anyone can spew verbal diarrhea in the form of criticism, disgust and horror (some items do warrant a response). But honestly how does gossip and criticism help anything? It just adds to the waste pile and stirs the folks around you and gets them going and swimming in it as well.

When I was managing I told the staff that if they had an issue with something or someone bring the issue to me with a viable solution.

Anyone can whine but few can lead with genuine solutions.

Please understand I am not talking about “justice” I am talking gossip or criticism which is not helpful. Perhaps eyes closed and knees bowed in prayer would actually be more effective to finding a solution.

I find Facebook one of the biggest offenders of sharing gossip, is there no good news to post? Pray before you post.

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

2) Keep your eyes open and be observant, look where you are swimming

Being aware of what is going on around you is essential. How in the world did we get in this mess if we had been watchful? Perhaps by not necessarily believing the signs on the walls or empty promises stating 2 days poop free because I do not think any day can be totally poop free, everyday usually has some poop in it!

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

3) Be very aware that poop happens: to you, from you and beside you: allow grace to all when “accidents” happen. But if poop keeps being an issue - walk away

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

Easy to say when horrendous things keep being paraded before us. How should we react when people get hurt, guns go off and the world seems such a mess? We are definitely in a war and there are times where we must take a stand. I personally love the stories from WW2 of people helping people. They banded together to help others hide or get smuggled out from Nazi’s. Good happens parallel with the bad, it is not all bad out there.

Yes the world can be a mucky place but flowers also grow well with manure.

The battle is and can be terrifyingly real and I know for me and my house bended knee and prayer is our best and only defence against evil. That is what we are battling- evil. If all we can do is wring our hands and think doom we are swimming in the wrong pool.

We can choose to dwell in evil and swim in it for a while or we can choose to fight it with God. God has supernatural wisdom, strategy, peace and assurance that we are not alone in a world that has a lot of poop piles. Good is still here and around us and God is very much with us. A most important tip to remember.

So next time you get caught up in a discussion that seems to be going nowhere but down the slippery slope of gossip and criticism take a stand and you be the one to say, “why don’t we pray about that.” Be a solution.

The folks around you are looking for solutions, they are looking for a Saviour, it is the perfect time to tell someone, “Hey… I know a Guy…”