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One morning recently I decided to walk by the pond in the back of our property (above picture). There, I observed a gray bird with skinny legs seemingly walking on water.

I was intrigued!

The bird was actually carefully walking on the lily pads. I thought, “That bird must weigh no more than a feather to be held up by that plant.” I was so fascinated by it that I forgot to take a picture with my hand-dandy android. But then the bird stood on one lily pad for too long and started to sink.

I thought, “Man, if there’s a giant Florida gator underneath, it’s going to come up, mouth open, and swallow both the bird and the lily pad whole.” Squab on lettuce for breakfast!

But there was no bird brain in that bird. The moment the lily pad started to give way he just moved to another lily pad and kept looking for whatever those birds look for.

The scene made me think of human nature and how  we tend to flirt with questionable behavior that has the potential of sinking us: our reputation, careers, relationships, lifestyle, dreams. You know the kinds of things I’m thinking of.

We each have our own lily pads we gingerly tread on. Only you know in your heart what those are.

I had a woman come to my office in tears many years ago. She wasn’t a member of our congregation but someone just passing by. Her marriage was in serious trouble; her husband was completely hooked on pornography. “It started with a magazine here and there” she said between sobs, “but now the briefcase he takes to his office is full of DVD’s and magazines. He is constantly thinking of the images of the women he sees. He no longer loves me.”

Maybe his descent to the bottom started with a magazine he had picked up between flights as at some airport.

I’ve heard that an alcoholic always starts with but one drink and a drug user with just one brief hit of pot. But eventually we all want stronger and better.

A damaging gossiper starts with just one juicy story, a workaholic with some big dollar overtime, and one having an affair with a harmless sexual tease.

We tend to deem these as harmless fun, don’t we?

What’s your lily pad? It’s not a question to be answered out loud but one to be acknowledged before the Almighty.

Before you say, “Oh, I’m very careful in what I do”, remember what the Bible says,

Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. (1Corinthians 10:12 MSG)

We’re all human, yeah, I get it! But certain play can be extremely damaging.

Get off those lily pads!

You may say, “But I can’t, I’ve tried.” Ok, then, let God have a go at it in your life. That’s what the apostle Paul meant by God-confidence.

I can hear you from where I sit, “It’s not simple.” Could it be that maybe, to you, God is not that powerful?

If I sound self righteous, I am sorry, I don’t mean to be. Pastors struggle like everyone else. There are areas of my life that I must hand over to God every day otherwise I’m going to sink deep and be in danger of becoming food for reptile like that bird.

On our own strength we are all doomed to fail against those things we’re weak about. Ultimate victory requires radically handing over to the Lord every area of our lives. He may also lead us to accountability partners and helpful resources. Only in Him are we able to move pass those lily pads so we can stand on solid grounds.

There is overcoming strength in Christ!

Write me a comment if you’d like.