We have a pool.

When we were looking for a house, we weren’t looking for a pool because we’d had one in Florida and it was fraught with issues. We never used it because it was under a pool cage (better with which to keep the gators and skeeters out, my dear) and in the shade, so we decided we never wanted one again. But then we found this property.

It had the acreage we wanted, and a house we loved, but also came with a lovely, sparkling pool, right out in the open and in full sun. Even though we didn’t want it (and even talked about filling it in – gasp!), everything else was so perfect, we decided that the pool was not going to be a deal breaker. We’d just live with it even if we never used it. We had someone come and get it ready for the season, and then we took over its maintenance and waited for the water and the weather to warm up.

Along came summer and after one dip, just to try it out, we found that we LOVED having a pool! It was so different from the one in Florida, being right out in the sun, that we really enjoyed it after working outside, or just to relax. We were happy with the decision.

You know how when you start to do a chore a few times in a row, it kind of becomes “your job”? Well, the pool maintenance became my job. I tested it and added the chemicals when needed. I cleaned out the traps and made sure the pool sweep was doing its job. I kept it looking good.

And then I left town for about 10 days.

And it rained fairly consistently that whole time.

Kevin was swamped at work, so he didn’t keep the regular pool maintenance schedule, and then every time he actually started to go out and do some, it would start raining. The rain throws the balance of the pool off anyway, so he waited. Then he went out of town. When we both got home, the pool was green. Out of balance. Gross. And we’ve been struggling to get it back to where it should be ever since.

Ten days and a few storms was all it took.

I’ve had this happen in my life, too; haven’t you? Maybe busyness creeps in and your normal schedule is thrown off. Things start to turn a little murky, and then a few unexpected storms blow in and throw everything even further out of balance. Before you know it, your life is covered in algae. What was once a welcoming sparkling blue, is so green and gross you can’t even see where you’re standing. You struggle to get it back, and maybe even make a little progress, but instead of being on top of it, you’re behind it all the time.

We finally had to call in a professional for the pool. They took some extreme measures and, after some mack-daddy chemical warfare, won the battle against the green. It’s back and beautiful and inviting us back into its calm. I’ve found that when this happens in life, it’s best to call in a Professional, too. He’s got just what we need to help us get back to right. It may take a round or two of good shock to kill back that algae in our priorities, but it’s worth it. He’s the only true way back to sparkling clean, and, thankfully, He’s always inviting us back to the calm.

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 NLT

“He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalm 107:29 ESV

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT