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Down the Drain

Down the Drain

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Down the Drain--waterfall between cliff wallsWe love to watch water fall into a river. However, we rarely want to watch water go down the drain. We lose that water, and it costs us.

Down the drain means wasted.

Our resources have:

  • Failed
  • Disappeared
  • Ruined

This may apply to:

  • Companies
  • Finances
  • Relationships
  • Personal or professional plans

Sometimes, we control what goes down the drain.

We do that when we:

  • Make risky investments.
  • Spend money recklessly.
  • Fail to nurture relationships.
  • Focus only on ourselves.

Other times, we have no control.

  • Banks or companies make poor decisions.
  • Thieves rob us.
  • People desert us.

Whether we have control or not, we lose.

Similar metaphors include:

  • Down the tubes
  • Down the pan
  • Down the toilet
  • Down the plughole

Life constantly changes.

With all its ups and downs, we look for a constant. We find that in a relationship with Jesus. Whatever the situation, Jesus remains with us and will guide us through it.

Circumstances may go down the drain. With Jesus, our eternity remains secure.

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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For the Birds

For the Birds

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For the Birds--ducks and geeseMy list of things for the birds includes:

  • Football
  • High heels
  • Gravy

I see little good in any of them. Neither do I understand why anyone likes them. Yet, you may enjoy all three.

Anything for the birds has little or no value.

We consider it:

  • Undesirable
  • Nonsense
  • A waste of time

For the birds can also mean something is:

  • Stupid
  • Boring
  • Frustrating
  • Annoying

This phrase may refer to birds picking seeds out of horse manure.

Probably none of us want to do that. I love the country and long walks in the middle of nowhere.  Yet, I prefer to stay away from manure.

Although I don’t like to be near manure, it does have value. Manure provides a natural fertilizer for the soil. Some people buy it, so it is not just for the birds after all.

Perhaps we need to be careful what we consider for the birds.

What we think worthless may be a blessing in disguise.

However, I still don’t like football, high heels, or gravy.

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:37 NIV).

Thanks to Melissa Graham for the suggestion.

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Haste Makes Waste

Haste Makes Waste

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Haste Makes Waste 6Speed works well on a race track but can cause problems other places. My parents and grandparents often said haste makes waste.

A few people can complete tasks quickly and well. Most of us need to take our time. A slow but steady pace usually means a safer and better outcome.

When we rush, we waste time and effort.

We may have to repeat our task, because we did not do it right the first time.

Think about the potential problems.

  • Lives injured or lost when we drive too fast
  • Tests failed when we rush our answers
  • Money wasted when we invest in get-rich-quick schemes

Who wants:

  • A doctor who won’t take time to answer questions?
  • An attorney who skips reading the evidence for a trial?
  • A cook who serves food before it’s done?

As John Wooden said, “If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?”

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 NIV).

Special thanks to Lisa Despain for the photo.

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