Second Time Around

I spent most of Friday trimming the trees in the Picnic Area around the Lake here at Sanctuary. Everything was looking pretty good. . .even though it was still raining. . .and I went back on Saturday to pick up all the branches that had been left on the ground.

One of the trees that I had just trimmed was gnawed (yep, my second beaver in as many years) almost half-way through. Another smaller tree had been chewed on as well just a little further down the edge of the lake. I quickly began to look closely all around, but found nothing else. He will be back. He will ruin trees. He will damage the beauty of the landscape. And he will discover Beaver Heaven if I get him in my sights.

It made me think about how much we as Believers are not like beavers. They (beavers) show up, get to work, accomplish their tasks with amazing speed, keep moving forward, prepare for a growing family, and build a home and life for themselves in a matter of weeks.

A lot (I WON’T say most, even though I want to) of Believers don’t show up when work is on the agenda. Getting the tasks of the Church accomplished is usually done by a few really hard workers. Some Believers slip back more than move forward, and they are not preparing their family for Spiritual growth, nor working in the ministry of growing God’s family of Believers, or the Kingdom of God.

If God’s people would work as hard as beavers, Churches would grow like. . .weeds. If Believers thought like beavers they could accomplish so much more in so much less time, and individually and collectively the families  of God’s Kingdom would be turning the World upside down. . .or should I say, right side up.

When I catch that beaver in my lake I am going to ask him if he wants to teach a class “down to the local Church.” It’s the only way he’s gonna’ miss beaver Heaven that day.