In high school and college I knew my life choices would not result in the “American Dream.” I was interested in social work, missions, or ministry, none of which were known for their money. I knew that my purpose in life was not to have fancy vacations, accumulate a lot of stuff, nor the large house to put the stuff in. I felt very free knowing material possessions was not my goal or reward. However, as I’ve gotten older I am regularly surprised by my desires for stuff, fancy vacations, and a bigger house. Something inside of me really wants that dream house! When I visit my 3 brothers’ homes (all dream homes) I have to intentionally remind myself that our home is perfect for our family and that a Haitian family of 8 could live in our bedroom alone. We do not NEED more, bigger, better, newer. We have everything we need, and MORE.

I have three beautiful sisters-in-law. Dionne is an amazing decorator. Brooke makes awesome picture scrapbooks for each of her kids and is great about regular Facebook status updates. Tina is super-fit and the youngest principle I know. Am I going to feel jealous or inferior or am I going to celebrate them while being grateful for the way God has wired me?

Do you find yourself making comparisons to others and feeling like everyone else has something that you don’t? It’s part of human nature. Consider Eve-- she could partake of ALL of the fruit in the garden but she wanted the one thing that she couldn’t have. So often in life that is just what we do. We convince ourselves that everyone else has --you can fill in the blank --a significant other, nicer clothes, a nicer car, a nicer body, better skills, etc . The enemy, who wants to steal from you, desires no more than for you to focus on what you don’t have rather than to be grateful and content with what you do have.

Contentment is a state of mind not a state of “having.” Develop this frame of mind now so that you can live a life filled with thanksgiving, peace and joy. Focus on the blessings in your life…even on the positive aspect of what you’re lacking. When it’s time to clean or keep track of our two boys, I’m so glad our house is small! “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

No, not “dryness” as opposed to “wetness.” But spiritual “dryness.” Becoming spiritually “dry” happens to all of us at one time or another. It is sort of the “dirty little secret” of the Christian life that most of us hesitate to share—and many of us will not even admit exists.

Seventy years ago, Hannah Whitall Smith, wrote this little devotional classic entitled, “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.” The title might make you think that she believes that living as a Christian is all sunshine, flowers, and rainbows, with happy-little-puffy- white- clouds. And, that there is some “secret” formula that will absolutely guarantee that you will never again be anything but happy all the time if you only become a Christian. But you would be wrong. In fact, her reason for writing the book in the first place was that the dichotomy between the life Christians “ought” and “want” to live stands in such contrast to the life that Christians “really” live.

So, “dryness” happens. It almost never happens suddenly—all at once. Like a literal drought which creates a physical desert out of a previously lush climate, spiritual drought (dryness) creeps up slowly. It may come from laziness—like failing to regularly feed your soul from God’s Word, or failing to deal with insidious temptations before they erupt forth in sin. Or, “dryness” may come from weariness—life can come at you with a vengeance. Illness, grief, broken relationships, stress—all of these life situations can bludgeon you until you are completely spiritually fatigued. “Dryness” comes from any of a multitude of sources and influences.

You have probably been there. I have been there. Actually, I AM there today as I sit and write this blog. The one thing I do know, is that the “dryness” will eventually come to an end. If I will begin to do my part to reclaim the freshness in my spiritual life, God certainly will do HIS part to refresh, renew and restore me.

Actually, having written this, I am beginning to feel a little better already. Strange. Strange indeed.