Did you ever have a day like this? A man, cleaning
one of those big cement trucks, got caught in the mixer. He climbed into the
back of the truck with a hose to flush out remaining cement when his hose caught
on a lever and pulled it to the "on" position. Suddenly, he found himself going
round and round in the mixer with no way to escape. Slipping, sliding and
banging around inside, all he could do was shout for help.
Fortunately, another worker came over and shut it off.
In moments a bruised man, covered with wet concrete, emerged from the mixer. It
reminds me of some days I've had. You know what I mean.
If you ever feel as if you are being knocked about by
life, think about the amazing bird called the Water Ouzel. I can't imagine this
water bird knows what it is to have a bad day. The little creature is often
found living next to violent waterfalls and fast-rushing rivers. And however
threatening the weather, however cold the water, in snow and rain and even
blazing summer sun, the tough and cheerful Water Ouzel can be heard chirping and
singing. What's more, while the voices of most song-birds, however melodious in
warm weather, fall silent over long winter months, the hearty Water Ouzel sings
on through all seasons and every kind of storm. I have to wonder: does this
little creature know something I don't?
It's as if the bird knows that every violent storm
will eventually give way to sunshine; every dark night will finally fade into
dawn. And isn't it true? Even our bleakest and stormiest times do not last
forever. Like the poor man buffeted about in the cement mixer, there is almost
always an end to the turmoil.
As the incredible humanitarian novelist Harriet
Beecher Stowe said, "When you get in a tight place and everything goes against
you, until it seems as if you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up
then, for that is just the place and time when the tide will turn." I have had
that experience more times than I can remember.
Maybe this is one of those days you feel as if you are
in the cement mixer. If so, do you need to hold on a little longer?
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.