Have you ever done a job using a tool that pressed or rubbed against a part of your skin that isn’t used to it, and developed a blister? and then that blister turns into a callus? Fun, innit?
I swept our back patio and sidewalk recently. I hadn’t used an actual broom in a while, since our vacuum has a ‘hardwood’ setting and I can use it all over our house. It’s super convenient.
Anyway, this was the first time this season that I’ve had to sweep up so much ‘nature’ blown out of the trees and onto my deck. I was also helping sweep up trimmings from my husband’s handy yard work. (And it looks pretty good if I do say so myself!)
After I swept up the second pile of nature and went to hit the next section of concrete, my hands were actually a little sore. It felt like I was getting blisters. BOO. I may have actually paused and looked at my hands, rubbing the skin that was now a little red and enflamed in places.
And you know what? I almost stopped sweeping because of it. I tried to reason that “This stuff is outside, the wind’s just gonna blow more junk everywhere.” and “Who really cares if the sidewalk has grass and tree bits all over it?” plus, “It’s hot out here.” Wah-wah-wah…
But then I gave myself a pep talk, telling myself it wouldn’t take much longer, I would feel better after I did it, and I would certainly be glad the dogs weren’t dragging that stuff into the house anymore. (Even though the vacuum has a hardwood setting.)
Besides, I had promised my husband I would help him. So back to work it was!
During the course of this conversation (it would not be inaccurate to call it a debate) with myself (in which I may or may not have sassed back to myself a few times), the Holy Spirit brought to mind my spiritual skin. He really got me thinking!
Spiritual skin, especially around the heart, is different than that of my hands. It actually starts out naturally quite hard. The things of the world, my own sin and skewed perspectives, my selfishness…all of these have caused calluses on my heart.
The more I expose the hard skin around my heart to the Word of God, the cleansing air of confession, the more I let repentance and humility press it, the softer I become to the things of God.
Spiritual disciplines are the only thing I can think of that the more you use them, the stronger you become, and the softer you also become. This softening is not easy. It doesn’t happen overnight- it requires work.
And sometimes I feel like stopping. I get tired. I try to convince myself that I’ve grown enough. Or that I’m old enough to know a lot of things…
But I promised the Lord I would do it, so I am going to keep on working on myself, and let Him work on me too.
Besides, I know how happy I’ll be when I’ve done it. I won’t be dragging around that ‘nature’ anymore.
Praise the Lord for His work in my life, even though I sometimes complain about the softening. I really am grateful!
Of Faith & Fortitude 
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