Spiritual Inversions

The once pristine vally we live in now has some of the worst air pollution in the west. During the cold winter months, we experience inversions-a layer of very cold air holds down the air below it, creating a stagnant air mass caught between the two beautiful mountain ranges on both sides. It is a dangerous form of pollution and schools keep kids in from recess and people are encouraged by the city to stop driving and stay indoors. Sadly, this all happened in only two years. How?

Well, it's the old story. The problem was predictable-we have always had inversions. The mountains have always been there. Health experts warned us. But rapid growth brought more and more cars, which brought more traffic lights, which results in more stop and go traffic, and results in more and more smog. And now, instead of sledding on a nice winter day, my kids often have to stay inside, many suffer from asthama and bronchitis, and the mountains are murky.

Do we not experience the same in our spiritual lives? We see a temptation coming, but we don't do anything about it. Soon we are falling into sin-just a little at first, then more and more. Oh we know it's wrong, but we get used to it. The inversion forms when we form a "cap" or facade of seemingly doing well, never sharing our struggle with others, asking foregiveness, etc. The internal pollution just gets worse and worse until, almost literally, we can't go out anymore. How many times have I seen sudents quit coming to our group because of....guilt. They are drinking, or getting involved with someone sexually or just growing cold to God. Eventually, being around other Christians or hearing the word makes them very uncomfortable, so they stay home.

Is there an answer? Well, the air here in Logan, Utah is clear today because finally, the winds came and temperatures went up. In the same way, the fresh breezes of confessing and asking God for foregiveness can clear the gunk from our soul (I Jn. 1:9) and we can breath again, go out again, live again.

So if you are holding in some internal pollution, tell a trusted friend or your pastor and most importantly, confess your sins to God. Let him clear the skies of your life. If you have ever seen the PBS production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, you will remember Aslan's breath freeing the people of Narnia who had been turned to stone. It's as awesome as that! Let the winds of healing blow and see the blue skies -they have been there all along.