The story of a water bottle … with four great lessons.
I’m not a name brand. You won’t find Hydro Flask or Yeti on me. No fancy branding logo/image. But you know what, I hold water. And I keep it pretty cool.
I’m not a gimmick, like stickers that will be attached when you complete bucket list or visit far off parks or states. Nope. Simple, chrome, reusable. And I like the reusable part, that makes be eco-friendly. So I may be chrome plated, but I am green. This makes me feel good.
I was purchased off the shelf at a local sporting good retail store … not like those sight unseen purchases from Amazon or wherever. So I was picked, chosen, selected from a long shelf of other water flasks. This makes me feel good.
The purchaser was a young person, slim and athletic looking, possibly college age young woman. Wohoo. I am going to be used for that which I was created. This makes me feel good.’
But … there is a twist to my story. She didn’t take me home and put me to work. Upon arrival to her dorm room, she took off my price tags but left the stringed tag that explains how to clean me. Yes, I need to be clean. I’m not a slob or anything, but use me – clean me – repeat. But no, she left the tag and wrapped me in some kind of paper and stuffed me in a bag. I didn’t understand.
Two weeks – 14 days I stayed in the back seat of her car and in this stuffy bag. What was up. Then one day, I was picked up and taken into a house. She gave me away. SHE GAVE ME AWAY.
Rejection. Unwanted. Thrust aside. Hey, even water bottles have feelings.
Wait, something weird. I was taken out of the bag, unwrapped and … hugged? Then there were words of gratitude shared, warm feelings expressed. I was given as a gift. So cool.
Sunday came, I was cleaned and taken to church. Wow. I got to worship with others. I felt special … a gift, appreciated, and now, attending church.
ONE … Who have you taken to church lately?
However, I was left behind. The songs were over, the sermon heard the last, “Amen,” the screens and lights went dark, and the doors were shut and locked. But here I was … row four, near the center aisle, standing upright below the seat.
Later that day, I didn’t know what was happening at the house of my owner. She felt terrible … she had lost me. She checked the car, she cleaned and looked all over the house, and she felt terrible.
A couple days went by, and the cleaning crew found me and put in a box in the welcome center with a funny looking sign on the box …
A week went by, and there I sat, next to a box of crayons, a well used Bible, and some reading glasses. But Sunday came. And I had a good feeling. My owner would return and claim me. However, the box never moved.
TWO … Believe it or not, you are missed when you don’t go to church!
Another week, but I didn’t feel so good this time. Just like the two weeks in the bag, I have spent two weeks unclaimed, forgotten. So I was surprised when the box was jostled, picked up, and a hand reached in and grabbed me. A squeal. My owner has claimed me.
Later that day, I was cleaned and filled and used. This was for what I was created. There is a sense of satisfaction when I fulfill my purpose.
THREE … God created you for a purpose – to glorify Him – and we do that when we worship together – we do that at church
One final point, it took a lost bottle to get my owner back to church. What would it take you? September 15 (3rd Sunday in September) is Back to Church Sunday … take advantage of this and get back and invite someone to go with you. You can even bring your water bottle (but make sure to take it back home with you!)
FOUR … What will it take you to get back to church where you belong?
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
Leave a comment