Life stinks. Literally.
To be technically accurate, life stunk. Our septic tank backed up about 2 weeks ago, and we were left with an interesting dilemma. No one knew where the tank was located.
A previous owner had placed a tank in the backyard together with an elaborate drainage system. No one had ever needed to pump out the tank and there was no access hole for emptying. Obviously, something needed to be done!
We dug a few random test holes. No luck. We poked and explored—nothing but mucky arms to show for that effort. Desperation forced me to search online for the name of a man I had never met, unsure if I knew how to spell his name. Miracle of miracles—the second call was a bonanza! I reached his elderly mother and we soon found the tank.
It is amazing the smelly stuff that can be buried out in the yard. It is only when something happens that you are forced to dig it up.
It is amazing the smelly junk that is still buried in my life. It is only when something happens that I am forced to dig it up.
I have discovered a cesspool of self-reliance buried in my life. Missions forced me back to a stage of weakness, revealing how much more I relied on my own abilities than on God’s strength.
I have been forced to dig up a pit of cultural pride. I grew up thinking that my culture was the right culture, and that we had a corner on theology and church.
Anger has been dug up every time someone passes me driving down a sidewalk, an official asks for “just one more document,” or one more person shoves in front of me in line. God has been in the business of digging up lots of cesspools in my life, trying to make me in His image. I, on the other hand, prefer to keep them buried.
My human nature is satisfied with self-centeredness, self-gain and self-appearance. I don’t enjoy digging through the top layer to deal with buried garbage! But whether I want to or not, I need to deal with the problems.
I am used to many odors in Moldova—squatty potties, garlicky body odors, rotting garbage and who-knows-what from over my neighbor’s fence! I want God to clean my life so I may be a fragrance of life to each person I meet.
2 Cor. 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.
Smelling better in Moldova,
Andy Raatz
PS: Thanks again for your partnership in the work in Moldova. You are investing in a country that needs the Church to bring transformation. Our vision is simple–to see the Church bring life-changing transformation to each village and city, each neighborhood and apartment. We want to see our country changed by God’s mercy and grace.