November, and the water is fine.

I loaded up the boat, a couple of good friends and headed for the lake yesterday. Note that it is November the 10th, and that there are lots of people across our country who would have to include ice skates in their collection of sporting goods if they were to head to a lake nearby at this time of year. But living in Southern California has many charms, and one of them is that we can waterski and wakeboard year 'round. So for us, the day was spent blasting around in my ski boat. We would stop every once in a while back in some remote canyon, and make sure the boat was in the shade of a tall canyon wall so we didn't get too hot. No bugs this time of year, and being a Monday, very few other boaters out and about. It was silent, except for the "Oldies" cranked on the stereo, three men who know how to enjoy the outdoors and know who to thank for it. I even had my faithful and loving dog by my side. It couldn't have been better.

I stopped to think about the canyons and back bays of this large lake - it is a part of the California Aqueduct and helps to feed the drinking water from the north to the south in our state. It is a large lake, with plenty of room to enjoy boating, fishing, camping, picnics and the like. But I couldn't help but wonder at the amazing amount of planning and engineering which had to have gone into the design and building of this vast body of water. As we see it now, it makes sense. But how does anyone see the potential for a lake, before the lake is there? How do you wander around a bunch of canyons and gullies, empty and dry, and say, "this would be a perfect spot for ten gazzillion gallons of water. We can put the dam over there, and it will fill up right to there. Perfect."

The engineering and the surveying I'm sure spanned years before the thing was built. But what gets me it the thousands of variables. I mean, soils had to be good to keep the water in place. Canyons and cliffs had to be strong enough as the water level rose. The dam itself would have to be strong enough to handle the earthquakes common to our area. Rain would have to be added to the lake while not washing away the parts needed to keep everything in place. Launch ramps and other access would have to be provided, there are huge mechanisms to raise and lower the level of the lake, including a connection to the Cal Aqueduct, a hydro-electric plant, a lower lake and a spillway to handle overflow. In fact yesterday we saw the inlet - a huge underwater pipe which feeds water from the aqueduct actually makes a turbulent froth of the water five feet high and thirty or more feet across. We didn't dare get too close or it would easily have tossed our boat around or even flipped it.

What's the big deal? It's a lake, not a space shot. Well, whenever I see something that requires a lot of thinking on the part of man, something which amazes me with it's complexity, I stop and ask myself, "why do I ever doubt that God can take care of the dizzying details of my life?"

If man can plan and execute the many amazing things we do - from a water system which feeds all those millions of people in the lower part of the state, to traveling around in space, then I think I can begin to strengthen my faith in God's ability to handle some details. I think He can weave the hundreds of little choices I need to make into a tapestry of glory for Him.

OK God, I surrender. I think I'm going to let YOU handle the worrying about details today. I wanted to type, "from now on," but we both know me. I may try to take over the running of my life again from time to time. Help me with that Lord - I really can trust you, and I want to do better. So let's take it one day at a time. Today, I give you the details. Work in them.