"You Have Flies Because You Want Them"

This is a quote I heard the other day from Bill Marriott (of Marriott hotels). He was visiting a hotel that had flies in the dining room and he asked for answers. The staff explained how the dumpster outside had flies and they would creep in when they took the trash out or went out back. There were a number of reasons why the flies were in the hotel. Bill simply answered, "You have flies because you want them."

What he meant is, if you didn't really want flies you would do something about it. And the staff took it to heart. They added fly strips in the back room, they improved the doors so flies couldn't get it, they added fans near the back door so the flies couldn't make it past the rushing air.

And guess what? No flies.

Sometimes if you really want something you have to take the steps to get there. Too often I see this when people talk about Jesus. They want to know God more and live more as a reflection of Christ, but there's all these reasons why it can't be done. But if they would take the steps necessary, like the staff at the Marriott hotel did to get rid of the flies, suddenly Jesus won't be so far away.

You could change the expression.
"You see Jesus more because you're looking for Him."
"Jesus is more real because you take the steps to live like He's real."
"I am more service minded and compassionate because I chose to serve."
"I hear Jesus because I do what I can to listen for Him."

Get rid of spiritual flies. Do what you need to do to make it happen.

T