Linger too long in the stench of your hurt and you'll smell like the toxin you despise.

This is Max Lakato.

I spent too much of a summer sludging through sludge.

Oil field work is dirty at best, but you want to know the dirtiest job of all?

Shoveling silt out of empty oil tanks. The foreman saved such jobs for the summer help.

Thanks, boss.

My mom burned my work clothes.

Oh, how the stink stunk.

You know your hurts can do the same?

The better option?

Everything from sunsets to salvation. Look at what you have. Let

Jesus be the friend you need. Talk to him. Spare no detail. Disclose your fear and describe your

dread. Will your hurt disappear? Who knows? And in a sense, does it matter? You have a friend for life.

What could be better than that? So rather

than linger in the sludge, draw close to the Savior.