It’s a sit-and-watch-the-snow-melt kind of Saturday. Cold, windy, semi-cloudy, outside conditions giving no incentive to step out of the “shelter at home” walls that surround me.
In some ways, the highlight of the day has been watching the USNS COMFORT back out of Naval Station Norfolk and start its journey to the anxiously-waiting New York Harbor. One of the headlines that caught my eye as I looked for random information about the COMFORT cargo load was, “New York Harbor dredging underway to clear smooth arrival of USNS COMFORT for its arrival in Manhattan next week.” (nydailynews.com)
Oceanservice.noaa.gov defines “dredging” as “the removal of sediments and debris” from various bodies of water because the constant accumulation of sand, silt, and discarded matter makes the water increasingly shallow.
And I had several thoughts converge at once, all focused on how frequently the “rescue ship” God sends to people, cultures, countries, all require preparation, dredging, deepening in the lives and souls of those who will receive it. The sediment and debris of the world — heartaches, challenges, failures, pressures – accumulates over time and often without even realizing it, our water has grown shallow and easily polluted.
I thought about significant “dredging operations” in Scripture.
John the Baptist dredged the harbor of Jewish culture for the arrival of Jesus. (Matt. 3:11)
Jesus dredged the harbor of His disciples’ understanding as preparation for the release of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26)
The Holy Spirit dredged the harbor of Saul’s life so that Apostle Paul could step into his divine destiny. (Acts 9:17)
It should bring us comfort and encouragement that God-initiated dredging operations are powerfully ongoing. He is dredging the lives of leaders, entire cultures and countries, every day.
And we as individuals are not left out.
The Holy Spirit consistently dredges the harbors of our lives so that Jesus’ Words, His Life, His Presence may dwell within us in depth, clarity, and vibrancy. The Passion Translation proclaims, “He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom he splashed over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver. (Titus 3:6)
We all have “watch the snow melt days.” 
What a day of opportunity to engage with Him and in our hearts and actions, assist in the “clear smooth arrival” of His provisions and revelations in our lives.
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