Snorkelling

When the children were at home, our garden was always monster-sized. Their help was needed to keep it up. On hot summer days when they helped me weed, I drove them to the man-made lake at the edge of town for a swim.

One summer, our son got a set of fins, snorkel, and mask. He would go round and round the centre of this oval-shaped lake with his snorkel. The time to get him out was a challenge, because we didn't swim then, and he could go deeper than his sisters or I. He pretended not to hear me call him.

Usually, one of his friends would get him for us. In exasperation, I threatened to "put a cork in his snorkel." This became a family saying, meaning, of course, that one's plans will be thwarted unless one does what one is supposed to do.

The Bible also tells us that unless we follow God's directions, there will be consequences.

Proverbs 19:16 – He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, we know we need to listen when You instruct us. Sometimes, we'd like to go deeper, away from You, but we can never go deep enough to avoid Your voice. Help us to listen and obey. In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen.