Growing up our kids called these floppy balloons “Silly Man” and we’d always see who could find one first on a long car trip. They were big, they were weird, and they grabbed your attention. As the kids grew up, I became immune to the sight of them, often passing by without noticing them.
Then one day, the Lord spoke to me.

See that Silly Man?

Well, yeah. It’s ridiculous, huh?

No, really look at it.

Okay, it’s green. It’s blowing in the wind. Its arms are going everywhere.

What else?

It’s bending over in a way I haven’t been able to since the 90’s?

What else?

Um, well, the feet don’t move. It’s like they are rooted in cement.

So no matter how much it blows, it’s...

Not going anywhere. It’s firmly anchored. Ohhhh…

That’s right. When your feet are so firmly rooted in Christ, you can be blown all over the place but you will not be destroyed.

And (I’m really getting into the analogy at this point) I bring joy to some people and look silly to others but the main thing is, I’m there for a purpose…to draw others to Christ.

And, of course, there’s always that slight admonishment because I still get a little hoity-toity at times…

And just because some others look like Silly Men when they minister, you shouldn’t assume they aren’t rooted in Me either…

Yikes, I do that, don’t I?

Sometimes. But the main lesson is to remember the feet. Always keep them firmly rooted.

How?

Through reading the Word. Through daily communication with Me. Through LISTENING more than talking. Through trusting Me. Through turning to Me when all else fails.

Done, done, and done. I think I’m going to like being a Silly Man.

You always do, my dear, you always do!

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalm 40:2