Standing out like a sore thumb

In Australia we have the saying: “It stands out like a sore thumb” -meaning it is ‘painfully’ obvious. Well it stands out like a sore thumb when traveling through my home state of Queensland that all the older houses are high set, built on stilts a storey above the ground, while most newer houses are built at ground level. It is strange that you can live for decades with this ‘staring you in the face’ and not let the reason behind it influence your decisions in life – until it floods. Modern engineering tells us where to safely build, based on flood peaks of the past 100 years. ‘No need for stilts at these heights’ -that is until the flood records are broken.

Queensland occupies 25% of Australia’s land mass. It is bigger than twice the size of Texas, four times the size of Japan and six times the size of the UK. And for the past week most of it was underwater. Every river from the tropics to the dry outback has been in flood. In each part of the state, houses have been under water. Video and photos show house and shop roofs sticking out of the water. These floods are breaking records – in some areas they are the greatest ever. The Government estimates the total cost will be $6 billion.

The “Old Guys” were right. Build your house on high stilts.

If you look around you ‘it also stands out like a sore thumb’ that some people, and some families have built their lives on stilts that raise them up to a higher level. They see things from God’s perspective rather than their own. When life floods them with problems they are not relying on their own strength, rather they rely on God who lifts them up. Being lifted up they are filled with hope for the future. Even in times of flood.

How high is your life off the ground?

Psalm 18:1-6 (MSG) I love you, GOD— you make me strong. GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. I sing to GOD, the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved. The hangman's noose was tight at my throat; devil waters rushed over me. Hell's ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit. A hostile world! I call to GOD, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!

Psalm 40:1-3 (MSG) I waited and waited and waited for GOD. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to GOD.

Psalm 62:6-8 (MSG) He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. My help and glory are in God —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.

Bob Lipsys, Australia