Me and Leslie at her parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, heading toward our own 50th!

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Psalm 118:22-25

A dragon fly touched down on the white limestone as the rock bleached in the sun. The stone held the memory of the day crowbars had levered it over the precipice. It tumbled out of control until it dug its own grave at the bottom of the hill. Weeds grew up and softened the bruises.

But the stone knew there were plans for his life. He could tell by the marks of the stone mason’s chisel on his face. He was not a jagged accident. The smooth sides, sharp corners and straight lines all gave him evidence that he was designed for something, but what he did not know. The builders didn’t know when he arrived on the job site. So to make room for more supplies he was pushed over the edge.

What is a stone to do at the bottom of the hill? How can a stone pull itself upright? It can do nothing but wait in the weeds, sun and dragonflies. For when the building has progressed to the place on the plan where the stone fits builders will scour a thousand hills looking for him. Until then no one but God knows where that stone belongs. The stone lives with the frustration of design, knowing there is something better in store but also knowing that the bottom of the hill is not it. God however is secure and satisfied to know that the stone is just where he left it waiting for his next plans.

There are moments of inertia in life when our lives as held in gravity’s grip at the base of the hill. We know we have a design. We haven’t seen the blueprints but we can see the evidences of God’s development of us for some purpose. The lines are too straight, the corners too sharp and the face of our lives bears the tool marks of a craftsman with a purpose. But for the moment we have weeds and dragon flies for company.

The stone will be put into place by one thing: the Lord’s doing. There is a day coming that God has made when the stone will be airlifted into position. There is a time of rescue when all events have come together and the need faced will require us to be hoisted into view.

That is why stones and people can pray, “Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success.” The design cannot be diminished by the days of waiting. The purpose is in us, it just waits the right time.

Father, I come with inertia. Please meet me with your momentum. Position me today according to my design. Amen.