If the wise are those who build on rock, the foolish are those who build on sand.

Sand shifts. Sand moves. Sand is a million pieces of rock. Sand is all the same substance as the rock but in pieces too small to give any support. Sand is a collection of completely independent individuals. Sand is more comfortable for sleeping than rock. Sand is easier to mold into shapes, which are less durable than rock. Sand is great for playing. Sand is good for polishing things smooth. Sand is part of glass. Sand drifts.

Rock is heavy. Rock is durable. Rock doesn’t get blown away. Rock takes a lot to move. Rock isn’t very flexible. Rock is connected. Rock isn’t very comfortable. Rock can be carved but not molded. Rock can be polished.

Sometimes we take in thousands of pieces of stuff or we look for answers from lots of people and we pile them up like sand. We move them around til they conform to our likes and dislikes. We add some water so that the pieces will stick and look like something solid.

Sometimes we spend a lot of time creating the appearance of obedience. We build a structure that looks the same as all the rest of the structures around. But under the surface, where no one can see, there isn’t much that is solid.

Whatever sand is good for, supporting a structure isn’t one of those things. Which is why Jesus used it as an example of a foolish place to build a house. The example was clear to everyone listening. But it leaves us with a choice.

Sometimes, if we just did what Jesus told us to do, we’d be a lot more stable. But it seems harder to build something that will last. Forever.