Often I approach these things with so many words that my fingers have difficulty keeping up with my brain. Today is one of those days. My mind is full of images and thoughts and questions that I ache to share with you. I have absolutely no way of doing so except to crank the ipod and take it one thought at a time. If your curiousity allows you to read further, I pray that you would leave with a deeper understanding of what the Father is doing in my heart and mind.
Every so often, I am blessed to get to head to the beach here in Dakar. Saturday is the day of choice. The sun is always shining these days, and the temperature has begun to cool a little from the desert winds coming in. I'm not sure if it could be more perfect weather for laying under a colorful hut, watching the waves come in.
This past Saturday, Meredith, Gay, Molly and I headed for Yoff beach. It's a quiet area. The only people that tend to be there are guys working out on the beach and a few sheep keepers. This particular day seemed to be close to perfect. I had my music, journal, a good book and the sun. As we got settled in our newly found 'beach area' we couldn't help but notice the sheep to our left. There were about 10-15 sheep just hangin' out in their own world. Not a care in the world except to baa in as many octaves as could be imagined.
I finally got comfortable. But before I knew it, I heard, what sounded like, a dying sheep. Jolted a bit, I took my headphones off and looked around for where the strange noise was coming from. Sure enough, the sheep keeper next door had a sheep by his two front legs and was leading him to the ocean. This could only mean one thing...it was time for a bath. Now, this might be one of the funniest things I have ever watched in my life. The sheep looks to his right and to his left, baa'ing as if to scream out for help against the ocean current and cleanliness. The sheep keeper patiently guides him on two feet straight for the waters, and once in the water, the sheep is splashed and scrubbed, all the while still cring out for help. The sheep keeper carefully guards the victims head while turning him over and over in the ocean to make sure that he's completely cleaned. When clean, the sheep is released, and he goes happily running right back to his other dirty companions, and the process begins again with a new sheep.
In the midst of my laughter, it seemed the Lord quietly reminded me of my sheeplike behavior.
So often it seems I ache to be clean, but the process of getting the dirt off isn't always the easiest or the most pleasant. Too often I pitch a fit, kicking and screaming, yet He is faithful and patient. He carefully guides me to the ocean of redemption, turning me over and over until all of the filth is wiped away. There is no power like the power of Jesus. There is nothing that can wash away my filth than that of the blood of the Savior. Even in the midst of my stubborn flesh, He has been gentle. Praise the Lord that He knows all things and is without fault.
"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
