Roots, Hidden Stink, and a Missing Wall of Defense

The past 24 hours at the Galloway household has been interesting. Tuesday night about 7:00 our septic system began to back up. The kids came running in telling me the toilet was overflowing, and then the next thing we know the septic system was backing up in the bathtub. What a mess!

It was so late that we couldn't get a plumber, so we had to wait until the next day. When the plumbers came they discovered roots had grown up around the pipe leading to the septic tank. All of a sudden the memory came flooding back. We had the same problem just a few years ago. Hidden stink came shooting out in the tub and the toilet, and roots were to blame. We were told that we needed to do something about them, but once the problem was cleared out, we forgot to deal with the "root" of the problem. Not until the mess started spewing out again did we remember our previous problems.

Our spiritual life is often like our septic tank. Sometimes in our life, hidden stink begins to back up into our life, and the problem is some roots in our life - a root of bitterness, a root of greed, a root of lust. But often once the crisis is over, we forget about the roots and never deal with them.

As the plumbers dealt with the "root" of our problem, he discovered another problem with our septic system. Most systems have a wall of concrete around the pipe leading to the tank to act as a wall of defense to protect against roots. Our system never had such a wall of protection.

All of us need a wall of defense against hidden stink backing up into our life. That may be accountability partners, a home group of fellow believers, and the practice of a regular quiet time with God. Don't neglect to build a wall of defense in your life to protect yourself. If not, your life may end up filled with hidden stink.