Our family entered into a whole new world this summer. We now have a pool. For the last few years we have suffered through long hot summers with few options to do at home. Our backyard has been no mans land from June to Sept the last few years when the thermometer is stuck between 98 and 102.

So we decided that this year we would not spend money on vacations, and buy a pool of the above ground variety. It was no problem ordering the pool online - it arrived in a week. Now I had to get busy. After much digging, picking and shoveling we had a level (close) spot. Then we built a small deck to go around the pool. Then we set up the pool and filled it up. Everything looked good and we jumped in. It was much work to get it up and ready, but then I found out the rest of the story.

Its not that I had no clue about all the things you have to do to keep the water clean - but basically I had no clue. I had to program the filter, add 200 pounds of salt, add stabilizer, check the copper, check the alkaline, check the PH, test again, run the pump and then do it all again. Somehow I am supposed to be able to look at a little color strip and judge between tan and light tan to figure out if the level is right.

It makes me think about our life. So many times we focus on the big setup of life. Get the job, buy the house, no major illness and all can look in place. Yet many problems can be lurking in our spirit. We need to take a deeper look and see what is in place and what is missing so we don't end up with green slime or burning eyes.

Too often we go along and do not address the issues that are working against us to ruin the purity of our spirit just like acidity ruins the purity of our pool water. God is asking us to examine our lives - not at first glance - but what is the real condition of our spirit? What are the spiritual markers telling in our life? Have you tested your spiritual PH lately?

Lamentations 3:40 says: "let us test and examine our ways.Let us turn back to the Lord."
God calls us to examine our hearts and test ourselves and see the condition of our relationship with Him.

God also tells us that we can be sure that He will test us - God knows what our PH is no matter what it looks like to others. Psalm 139:1 says: "O Lord, you have examined my heartand know everything about me."

So far we have enjoyed the pool but I know that I have to keep a close eye on the water chemistry and the condition of the pool water. Cleaning and testing will be all summer. Its not always what I want to do - but it leaves me with the peace to know it is safe and will not lead to bigger problems down the road. By the way you are invited to come and go for a swim anytime - and you can bring your water testing kit. :)