"Down in the Basement Digging Holes".

 I heard that statement for the very first time from Barry McGuire, one of my favorite musicians from many years back. He was giving his testimony and that is how he described the place he had come out from. It just seemed to describe so well certain phases in my life. The thought of it kind of made me laugh even though discouragement isn't funny.

There's really nothing wrong with basements. They are useful for family rooms, game rooms, get a ways and hiding out in the case of tornados. So, it can't be that basements are necessarily bad. I guess that it means, unless you are involved with a remodeling job or putting in a tri-level … digging holes down there is not advised. Well, where should we be digging holes then?

It sort of depends on why you are digging holes to begin with. Are you trying to find something, like hidden treasure? Are you … trying to hide something you don't want to come to light? Don't be surprised if you open a closet door and a skeleton jumps out, don't be alarmed. Just make peace with it. But digging holes down there doesn't do much good. There's too much clean up that has to take place afterwards.

So where should we dig holes? In the garden of course. We need to avoid dark places during times of discouragement. Come on up and out into the sunlight. Dig a hole with a purpose; plant a flower, tree or vegetable. Bury the skeleton from the basement closet. Give him a proper, Christian burial. LOL. Don't waste your energy digging holes that are not profitable to anyone.

Best of all, realize that the word discourage is more about courage .. than dissing it.  Don't let that little three letter prefix, "dis" distract you.  Focus on the larger word, "Courage". Let it stand on its own.  

Dis is simply a speed bump to courage. Slow down, move over it with respect and then go on. You have places to go and new things to do. Ask God for His roadmap. He will give you a new and useful direction, with understanding.