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| photo courtesy of Bible.com |
When I was a youngster, I didn’t mind going to the dentist. In those pre-cavity days it was an adventure. In my memory my dentist, Dr. Schadek, was a kind and gentle man. His office was in a formidable building with wide stairs and cement bannisters. The whole building was covered in Tyndall Stone, as many buildings in Manitoba and Saskatchewan still are, including the Legislative Buildings of both provinces. It is the only Canadian stone on the worldwide list of global heritage stone resources. It is also a wonderful source of amusement to kids of all ages as one can often find fossils embedded in the surface of the cut stones. Though quite a daunting structure in my mind, Doc Schadek’s office was in a one-story building.
The best thing about visiting the Doc in those days was the treasure chest. If you were well behaved, you were allowed to pick a ‘trinket’ out of the treasure chest. I had no doubt that this was actual treasure as the Dr lived in a castle! His house had a turret and a dormer window! My imagination ran wild.
I saved my trinkets in a safe place and treasured them. Until I didn’t. I grew up and, for some unknown reason, I stopped going to the dentist for several years. Perhaps he retired and we didn’t get another one. It’s a mystery. I cannot tell you what happened to my trinket collection. They must have been tossed as other things took their place in my heart.
Those were the days when I saved and “stored up for myself treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (MT 6:19 NIV) “Where my treasure was, there my heart was also.” (MT 6:21 NIV)
In time, lots of time, God gained my attention as He transformed my heart of stone into a heart of clay. It’s difficult now to remember a time without Him. He changed the desire of my heart from “treasures on earth” (vs 19) to “treasures in heaven.” (vs 20)
His word is life giving nectar to my body, soul and spirit. The guidance of His Spirit whisks me on winds to places I never dreamed of going. My friendship with King Jesus is a treasure to my heart which will never, ever get tossed like trinkets. He blesses me with words to write, not for my own sake but for His purposes. Yet all the above will wither and vanish away if I don’t guard my heart against the treasures of the flesh, of the world.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) Not just a little bit of vigilance, but with all vigilance. It won’t just happen, we need to make a deliberate choice, or continual choices, to keep the “springs of life” flowing.
Quite some time ago, I read an article that was placed below a beautiful painting of flowered lungs. The written words spoke of scholars and rabbis who believe the letters “YHWH” represent breathing sounds. YH inhaling and WH exhaling. Some say that a baby’s first breath speaks the name of God. Before writing this post, I listened to the sound of a heartbeat. As I sat with my eyes closed, I replaced the ‘lub dub’ sound of the heart with YH and WH. Listening carefully I could hear the whooshing sound of life sustaining blood flowing in the background. The springs of life.
As we sit to write, may we consider how, where and why our words come together. Who is the source, the Head of the river of our inspiration. Are we flowing with the springs of life or do we need a spring cleaning? Though I pray before I write, and will continue to do so, I think I will start praying like the psalmist in Psalm 139 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV) Let Your river flow through me, Lord. Through us. Through InScribe. Amen.
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| Doc Schadek's Office |
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| Doc's House |
I can totally see why you thought your dentist lived in a castle - it had turrets and everything. I too loved examining that 'trinket' tray the dentist offered, if we had behaved. (I still have in my keeping a tiny pink heart ring that my young nephew gave to me after he'd visited the dentist many years ago. I was touched then, and am still now, that this little boy thought of choosing something for his aunty rather than for himself from that treasure tray of goodies).
ReplyDeleteYou have given us much food for thought, Sharon. I love your words and how you have woven them into something beautiful. Thank you.
How fun to think your dentist lived in a castle. I have very different memories of visits to the dentist as a child, and the trauma has lingered into adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by your words, "Not just a little bit of vigilance, but with all vigilance. It won't just happen, we need to make a deliberate choice, or continual choices, to keep the 'springs of life' flowing." Each moment of life builds on another to construct a life of wholeness and integrity. Thank you for these words, Sharon.