Overflowing Gutter

You can tell that I am now living at the Manse rather than being a visitor.

On a few occasions since we arrived 12 days ago, we noticed that when it was raining, the gutter at the front of the house was overflowing. My conclusion was that it was either full of dirt or else the downpipe was blocked.

Today, during the rain, I noticed again that it was overflowing. So when I was outside anyway, wearing my boots and cagoule, I decided to investigate. The drain at the foot of the downpipe seemed clear, but there was practically no water coming out of the downpipe, despite the rain falling on the roof.

On closer inspection, I noticed that drain is completely covered by a grid, to prevent leaves and other debris from falling into the drain. The downpipe terminates about 5mm above the grid. That gap is large enough to allow leaves and other small items to be flushed out of the bottom of the pipe. But it is not large enough to allow lumps of moss, etc., to get out.

As a result, the bottom of the pipe had become clogged up by moss and mud.

I realised that the 10' high downpipe was fall of water. The plastic downpipe had enough flexibility to move sideways slightly, and as I moved the pipe, layers of mud were left behind on the grid. After flexing the pipe back and forwards a few times, the muddy plug suddenly disintegrated under the pressure of the pent up water, and the water gushed out and up from the bottom of the downpipe.

I wasn't quite quick enough to get out of the way, and my jeans got sprayed with muddy, dirty water! But the good news is that the downpipe is now clear, and the gutter above has stopped overflowing. A successful job completed. And I'll keep an eye on that downpipe during the coming months as the leaves fall during the Autumn.

It's a job a visitor would be unlikely to undertake, unless they were being very generous to the actual homeowner. It's not their problem. They don't own the house. They are not staying for long. It's someone else's problem.

The mud and dirt had built up without anyone noticing. The people who were using the manse were not living there for long - no more than a few weeks or months, and maybe only for a few days at a time. It is not surprising that no-one noticed, and that the problem had been developed. It wasn't anyone's fault. It just happened.

Sometimes such accumulations of rubbish occur in other parts of our lives too. The flow of air, water, or energy, can become blocked. Life is restricted, but often people don't notice. The deterioration can be so slow and gradual that everything seems normal. People become used to the way things are, without realising they could be much better.

Eliminating that blockage requires action. When the problem is noticed, it must be investigated. What has gone wrong? How can it be fixed? What are the risks? What are the benefits that will result?

Sometimes it is only an outsider who can see the problem. If that outsider passes on the observation sensitively then the person or people with the problem may act and sort it themselves. But they may need ongoing help, perhaps from a specialist in such issues.

Sometimes it is God who shows up the blockage. This is one of the values of prayer. We sense that voice of God urging us to take action, even although we hadn't seen there was a problem. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can clear up the mess and rebuild our lives.

Sometimes the process of clearing up the mess results in other folk getting covered in dirt too. But with goodwill and hard work, and the Lord's help, we can reach a successful conclusion.

Running water, fresh air, renewed energy, life to the full.

That's what Jesus came to do - to give you life to the full.
That's what he said. You can read it yourself, in John, chapter 10, verse 10.

"I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full."