STONES

We took some time this past few weeks to visit our daughter and her family in Dupont Washington. Our three grandkids, of course, were the highlight of our trip. All the things we did were really nice but being with them is what makes it meaningful.

On a particularly warm day (by Washington state standards) we took a little hike through the forest down a trail that led us to the shore of the Puget Sound. The beaches there on the sound are not like sandy, they are covered in rocks ranging in size from a tiny pebble to baseball size stones. We played with the kids for a good while, they actually got in the water (which again by Washington State standards was “warm”). We attempted to build rock “sandcastles” but rocks don’t pack as nicely nor hold form like sand does. We built our rock castles and then the kids went back into the water.

As I sat there watching them play in goose bump producing water I reached over and picked up a small stone. It was a nice amber color and when held up to the sun light it had a soft glow about it. The rock had a noticeable square shape to it, but the edges were not sharp but rather rounded off and smooth, not at all jagged or sharp.

I held that small stone in my hand and, it was rather beautiful and smooth and I began to think about just how much this rock has been tossed and turned in the sea water, how many bumps and maybe even some battering against the shore that it must have endured before ending up sitting in the sun. The years of being tumbled and tossed had not created sharp edges but rather had polished what must have been at one time a sharp, rough rock into a beautiful, almost gem like stone.

I thought about how God turns us from rough, often too sharp, often cutting rocks into gems for His purpose. It makes me wonder if we see the things that toss and tumble our lives for what they are. Sure many things will through us in a bit of turmoil, sure events in life can be horrible at times, sure there are times in our life where we feel we are being beaten down, tossed here and there. There are certainly times in life that are not good at all.  Even in Romans 8:28 it never says that all things are good

 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Not all things are good, but even the bad things can work together with the good to shape us for God’s purpose. Those times can soften the edges; polish our lives that when in the Son Light shows something glowing and beautiful. So maybe we need to take to heart what James wrote in James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The various trials in this life are strengthening the stone, not trying to break it apart but rather smoothing the rough out of our character and the perfect result is that we become this gem in God’s Kingdom.  I know from personal experience that this isn’t always easy – which is maybe why God used a small smooth stone on the shore of the Puget Sound to remind me that He is still shaping and smoothing me for HIS purpose and reasons…