July 20, 2023 - Do the Right Thing

     After two rather difficult days, yesterday was a blessing.
     Scott, six youth, and I spent the day at Taylorsville Lake. 
     I have had a ski boat or a boat that could be used for skiing since I was in college except for about the last several years. Our Ebbtide died and I chose not to buy another one.
     I have enjoyed taking kids to the lake over the years.  I realized yesterday that I had missed taking a generation of Daybreak Youth to the lake.  That realization hurt.
     Beyond my sheer joy of being on the lake.  And beyond the joy I get when I see the smiles on their faces when they are having fun doing something that they may never have done before. 
     There is something that happens when I spend the day with the kids that may never happen in any other circumstance.  Maybe it is just in my mind, but I don’t think so.  The relationship I have with them changes.  I am seen as a real person, not just the pastor.  I felt that yesterday, especially with some kids with whom I have had a limited involvement. 
     I was more than zonked by the time I got home.  I plopped down for supper and told Teresa that I wasn’t going to swim.
     Because of the weather I didn’t swim on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks.  Last night the weather report for today was for rain and in the evening I had something tentatively scheduled.
     If I didn’t swim last evening then I might not swim for three days in a row.  I heard this temptation that said, “If you go three days without getting exercise, you might as well throw in the towel.
     After supper Teresa looked up and saw me heading for the pool.  It was one of those times that I really didn’t want to swim, but I knew I needed to do so.
     We are all confronted with decisions when we can choose to do the right thing or choose to yield to the temptation to throw in the towel.  They may seem like small decisions at the time, but they may be crucial.
     May I do the right thing today.