POP – THE QUESTION

POP.

Last week, a great friend (and evidently, a wise little acre) challenged me to write a devotional about something totally random. OK, you're on!

You might remember me talking about a visit with my brother, who lives at the beach. I talked about the kelp that had washed up on the shore. And I talked about the little *bulbs* that are attached to it. (That was the challenge - write something about the bulbs).

I love popping those things.

Evidently, this just might be a genetic trait. Because I can remember popping those things since I was a child.

At one time, my mom's parents lived in Morro Bay. They managed a trailer park that was right next to the ocean. One of my favorite things to do when I visited was to walk along the beach.

There's a difference between Southern California beaches and the beaches that lie further north. I suppose part of that is due to the lack of millions (literally??) of houses and buildings that crowd the shore of the beaches here in the south.

But, the beaches further north are just more…WILD!

The water is colder, and the waves seem stronger. And usually, the beach is strewn with many more things to see and collect.

I can remember times when the shoreline was littered with tiny jellyfish. And times when we collected hundreds of sand dollars. Sand dollars of every size, too. It was always a minor miracle to me how something only about ¼ of an inch in diameter managed to survive the pounding surf.

My family would usually take the 6-mile roundtrip to Cayucos and back. Six uninterrupted, fascinating, glorious miles walking in the sand along the sea.

One of my favorite things to do was to pop those little seaweed bulbs.

POP. POP. POP.

OK, that's fun. But there has to be a purpose for those little bulbs.

Yup, there is:

"Seaweed is made up of a round, hollow bulb, from which ribbon-like blades emerge from the top of the bulb. The bulbous float at the end of the kelp is filled with up to 10% carbon monoxide gas. The gas-filled bulb pulls the kelp up so that the blades float close to the surface and receive adequate sunlight."

Interesting, huh?

So, here's the lesson.

Someone else delights in popping things.

Satan loves to pop the little bulbs of joy and peace and hope in our lives.

Nothing delights him more than to smash his evil foot on all the things that help keep us afloat in life.

He is, after all, a murderer at heart.

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)

That job you rely on?

POP.

That house you feel secure in?

POP.

That healthy body and mind?

POP.

Those kids you adore?

POP.

That special friendship, relationship, marriage?

POP.

That list of popping could go on and on.

There he is, gleefully jumping and breaking those little bulbs.

Like I said last week, sometimes I think I can hear him cackle…

But you know what? Those little bulbs are only vulnerable because they're no longer attached. They are no longer connected to the thing that anchors them in the sea.

Washed up on shore – detached from their holdfast – floating away from the rocks – they become victims on the shore.

Is that what we let happen when we are tossed by the mighty waves of life?

Do we become detached from The Rock? Do we let go of our connection to the only One who anchors us?

If we do, we will undoubtedly find ourselves churned by the powerful waves and washed up on shore – where we will become hapless victims of the Evil Bulb-Popper.

Yes, we need those *bulbs* – and the Lord understands that. These things help us stay afloat in life.

But I am learning a very important lesson lately…

What's even more important than staying afloat – is the need to stay anchored.

So, yes, I'm still going to enjoy popping seaweed bulbs – (it's in my genes, remember?!). But I'm not going to do it without taking the time to look out to the mighty kelp beds that lie offshore.

The strong and sturdy kelp that is kept alive because it is anchored – held fast – by the rock it clings to.

POP – the question…

Are you more worried about staying afloat than staying anchored to The Rock?

(SIDENOTE: I have been recognized by Denise at Shortybear's Place. I am so blessed to have received this very thoughtful gesture. Thank you, Denise, for thinking of me - your kindness means so much!

Hey everyone, please stop by and visit Denise's blog - it's wonderful!)

(Other note: Having some issues with the Followers gadget, and slow loading. Please hang in there with me!!

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"