Pastor Chuck's Blog
One ordinary guy's thoughts on an extraordinary God

I spend my Wednesday mornings volunteering at my local YMCA, greeting people and checking them in. It is a simple task, really, but quite rewarding, as I get to serve others and encourage them. As I greet, I get told from time to time what a nice smile I have. It is usually very encouraging…but as I left the Y this morning, I was reminded of one thing that bothers me about my smile: a crooked tooth.

Even though I had years of having braces on my teeth, I have this one ‘out of place’ tooth. The poor little guy looks like the last to be picked for the kickball team…all the others in a straight line and he’s just crowded out behind them…all alone. Why am I telling you all this? Because it didn’t have to be this way.

After my braces, I was given a retainer to wear at night to help keep my teeth in place. It would require discipline (and at times be inconvenient), but the result would be worth it, I was told. I tried it for a while, but then starting “slipping”…a night here or a night there I wouldn’t wear it. Soon, wearing my retainer was the exception…and at first, there seemed to be no price. “Silly dentists”, I thought. “Always going off the deep end with all these things you’ve ‘got’ to do!”

I don’t know when it happened, but one day much later I looked in the mirror and there it was…a crooked line! That tooth serves as a walk-around reminder for me that discipline matters. When you stop being faithful to do the things you must do, it may seem like it has no effect, but it will catch up with us. So, what has God called you to do?

Read your Bible daily? Spend more time with your kids or spouse? Have regular exercise? Watch what you eat? Live on a budget? Whatever the needed routines in your life, take words of advice from a slightly unaligned mouth…discipline may be inconvenient, but it is a gift from God to keep our life on a straight path. Stay faithful! You can do it!

PC