Last week, we closed our above ground pool for the season. This is a tedious task. It includes having to balance the chemicals in the water one last time, lowering the water level, attaching an inflated circular float above the remaining pool water (the float helps keep ice from damaging the vinyl wall of the pool in the winter by taking pressure off the sides of the pool,) removing the filter hoses and winterizing the filter, and blowing water out of the underground hose at the bottom of the pool through the drainage cap. It takes about 2-3 hours to do all of this. The last step is to pull the winter pool cover over the float and then secure the cover.

When I entered the pool to help lift the cover over the float, I stayed in the water almost until the very end of the process. I had asked my wife to pull out the pool ladder, since I planned to get out by pulling myself up on the edge of the pool and then dropping to the ground below.

Much to my embarrassment, I did not have enough strength in my old man’s body to lift myself up and over the pool’s edge. We ended up placing the ladder back into the pool so I could use it to get out. I smiled at myself as I thought about it, and I’ll bet my wife did as well, although she did not show it. It would have been a cold winter for me if I stayed in the pool to say the least.

As I thought about this, I was reminded that Jesus is the bridge for us in life, lifting us out of wherever we may not want to be. He is always looking to help us when we need His strength.

I have a picture in my office at home that represents Jesus’ work in this regard. It is one of my favorites and I look at it often. I have included it in this blog entry. Hope you like it as much as I do. 

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek