Building Castles Out of Sand

Wednesday I had planned to head to Wittenberg with John. But I was too tired after getting in at 6:30 Wednesday morning, instead of 7:30pm Tuesday evening. So after some sleep, John and I headed for the beach. The beach is along the Elbe river, a tidal river in Hamburg, which is used for a great deal of port traffic. Once we arrived, John and I got down to the business of building sand castles. This is serious business when you're a nine year old boy. And build we did. One that was washed away almost immediately by the waves caused by a tanker. So we moved further up shore. And built two more. This was great, until the tide got higher, then a cargo ship passed, and no more castles.

So we moved again. Still further up-shore and built one more. It was still there when we headed home. All this sand castle building made me think of a scripture passage (a common occurrence in my line of work). The one where Jesus is talking about building houses on sand. And how it is a really really bad idea. What have we been building on sand? Which parts of our current faith practices are getting washed in the waves? Are we desperately trying to save them? Rebuilding as fast as we can, instead of picking up and moving up the beach, or even onto higher ground, with sturdier material? Have we forsaken the tougher sturdier material, for a better view? Because it is easier to build closer to the water, the sand is already wet, and the view of the river is certainly better. Are there parts of our church that we need to have washed away in the water? Parts that simply don't belong anymore, or never really did? What do we need to reclaim? What about your personal faith? Which parts are built on rock and can withstand anything, and which parts might be hit by a wave at any given moment? I don't know where all these thoughts are pointing yet, but I do know as I continue to find sand in my socks, shoes, pockets, hair, water bottle, etc, etc ,etc. I will continue to wonder.