Do you enjoy getting muddy? My family lives by a small lake that is drained each year to irrigate fields. When the water is drained out, it becomes one big mud puddle. This week, my kids and their friends ventured down to the mud puddle to explore. When they returned, they were covered head to toe in mud! The work of cleaning up was well worth the fun that was had.

 

Last night we saw an animal rolling in the mud. This time of year, elk are in “the rut.” This is a season where the male elk (bulls) are looking for females (cows) to mate with. The females will then give birth to babies (calves) in the spring. During the rut, the males make loud bugling calls that echo across mountain meadows. They battle each other using their antlers. They also roll in mud! But they’re not playing: they’re performing. All this activity signals to females that they are strong, and warns off rival males.

 

Yesterday we watched as a huge bull elk rolled in the mud, using his impressive antlers to toss big clumps of grass and dirt into the air. When he rose to his feet again, his normally brown fur was coated black with mud. Weeds and grass hung from his antlers. He was quite the mess!

 

Kids play in mud for fun. Elk roll in mud to prove themselves. Other animals like pigs, rhinos, and elephants roll in mud to stay cool on hot days. Mud can be both fun and helpful!

 

Did you know Jesus once used mud to heal a blind man? In John chapter 9, Jesus encountered a man who had been born blind. He had never had the opportunity to see the beautiful trees, birds, or rivers God made. Jesus put mud on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash the mud off. When he did, he was able to see for the first time. This was quite the miracle!

 

We don’t know exactly why Jesus chose to use mud—but whatever the reason, it showcased his power. It also makes me think back to Genesis when God made the first human from the dust of the ground. Jesus was with God at creation when the first human was made from dust, and now Jesus showed his power over creation by using a simple remedy—mud—to heal blindness.

 

The next time you’re playing with mud, remember God forming the first person from the dust of the ground, Jesus healing with mud, and God making mud for us to play in and animals to use.

“After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and made some mud with it and put the mud on the man’s eyes. Then he told the man, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.’ (Siloam means Sent.) So the man went, washed, and came back seeing.”

John 9:6-7 (NCV)

Dear God, thank you for creating wonderful things like mud for us to enjoy. Thank you for showing your power in everything you create.

Fun Fact:

Playing with mud can boost our mood and help us stay healthy. Healthy microbes (tiny living things) in mud can make our immune system stronger.

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