Have you ever called someone a “stick-in-the-mud” or have you been called that derogatory nickname yourself? What does that even mean? Oxford Languages English Dictionary defines “stick-in-the-mud” as “a person who is dull and unadventurous and who resists change” (emphasis mine). Allegedly, the phrase originated in the 1700s indicating a carriage with a wooden wheel spoke stuck so that progress forward is impeded. Hmmm, sounds like a resistance to change to me.

We Burke-girls walk a lot, nearly every day. Finding new trails is like a treasure hunt and certainly feels like treasure when found. Earlier this week, Lily and Bentley headed down a newly discovered trail, likely just a deer path, and something caught my eye. This odd swirling pattern in creek water had me captivated for long minutes. Ruby and I set off to catch up with Lily and Bentley, and Holy Spirit was just pouring life lessons into me from that creek eddy. I couldn’t get away from the moment and had to turn back to take a quick video. I’ve been thinking of Holy Spirit’s lesson through nature ever since.

You see, there’s a bit of debris causing the creek water to swirl counter to the main current forming an eddy. The water is stuck in this never ending swirl. Stuck. Stagnant. Resistant to change. Lifeless. Therefore, the water here is cloudy, dank, and dirty. The free-flowing creek water, though, is pure, clean, and clear.

Isn’t that what happens in our lives? Resistance to change and the build up of debris creates captivity, stagnation, and never moving forward. The build up of debris is anything hindering us from change or moving forward, anything holding us back, whatever is keeping us from embracing the path God has for us with rock solid trust.

Charlotte Gambill, in her book BREATHE, states, “no miraculous breakthroughs happen on the back of apathy.” According to Oxford Languages English Dictionary, apathy means a “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” Sound familiar? To me, apathy sounds a lot like indifference, carelessness, being stuck. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be stuck. I don’t want anything holding me captive from the life and future God has planned for me!

What may be holding you back? What debris has built up in your life causing a stagnant eddy? What keeps you from clearing the debris so that you may flow freely? Are there any changes you may need to make where you’ve been resistant? What are you holding onto that needs released? What traps or distractions do you need to avoid to stay in the free-flowing current? Are there areas you need to breathe life into? Take a few moments and really consider these questions. Ask Holy Spirit to show you. After all, God is all about wild trust and full freedom!

So, how about unsubscribing from the Stick-in-the-Mud Club? Let’s flow freely together.