I was chatting to a friend who had come to visit, as we walked along a paved ramp near our unit. The gardens to our left were beautiful, but instead, our eyes were drawn to some stains on those pavers beneath our feet.
‘These need attending to,’ my friend who likes to get in and fix things commented. ‘Who is responsible for cleaning common walkways like this here?’
‘I don’t know,’ I told her. ‘But I think I’ll get out here myself and scrub them off, as they annoy me too!’
The next day, I filled a bucket with soapy water, took my scrubbing brush and tried to clean those messy marks off the walkway. Yet, despite my best efforts and much bending over, some spots did not budge. I stretched my sore back and sighed, but in the end, decided to leave it at that.
A few days later, my husband and I heard a loud, whirring sound nearby. We poked our heads out—and there was a workman with not one but two large machines, washing down the pavers and blasting away all those dirty marks! Being new to our village, we did not realise that this event apparently happens every six months or so—the outside cleaning is all done for us.
Soon after, a neighbour told me another similar story.
‘We’re only quite new here too and, a few months ago, I decided to clean our outside windows. I took the screens off, then couldn’t get them back on, so had to ask the maintenance man for help. But when he came, he told us that contractors clean our outside windows, so we don’t have to do them ourselves at all!’
Now that’s two lovely cleaning tasks I will be very happy to leave to the professionals in future!
Years ago now, I also discovered how foolish it usually is for me to try to fix anything that goes wrong with my trusty laptop. I have a wonderful husband who is a whiz at all things computer-related, so I have learnt it’s much better to consult him in the first place, rather than press this or that button or click on this or that with my mouse. I do try at times—but that tends to complicate things even further rather than fix anything.
I suspect I need to apply these lessons in other areas of my life too. I can try to fix aspects of my behaviour that do not honour God. But unless I stop relying so much on myself and instead, learn to rely more and more on God’s strength on a daily basis, I will no doubt fail again. In the end, God is the Expert, the Master Designer, the only one who can ultimately fix things in our lives. And God has chosen to do this in the most amazing way, through sending our Saviour Jesus Christ into our broken world. Like the Apostle Paul, I know I need to declare from the bottom of my heart:
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:24-25
How about you? Is that your heart cry too?
Great practical wisdom shared. Thanks Jo-Anne
Thanks, Geoff. I really appreciate your feedback and encouragement. God bless!
Ah Jo, I’m feeling very low today. I’m surrounded by things that need fixing, including (or perhaps especially) myself, and yet God’s help seems conspicuously absent. I can’t seem to fix that, either, no matter how much I cry out to Him.
Mazzy, I’m so sorry you are feeling a bit hopeless right now and perhaps overwhelmed with all those things that need fixing–including maybe you! Even as I type this, I am praying for you–Lord, please let Mazzy know you ARE right there with her, no matter how she’s feeling. And please in your loving mercy, comfort and encourage her. Please put others around her who understand too and can help her move forward and walk the journey with her. You know what is happening in her life, so please reveal yourself more and more to her each day. Amen.
Mazzymo
Even as I say the name, it has a certain cadence to it. And I guess I would humbly suggest that where confusion and anguish abound- and peace like a river seems a mirage rather than reality- you have found your reality. You can’t. You can’t. In those two words is profound wisdom. Sit with them a while-and then finish the sentence- But You are faithful.
Daniel was in an enemy land- God was faithful to His Word and to His people. Joseph was existing in the darkness of an Egyptian dungeon- but the Lord was with Joseph.
You may feel- AND you may know. May You know- and be content with the faithfulness of our God- whose mercies never cease, whose love is unsearchable, and in His compassion remembers our human frailty. You are in safe hands Mazzymo- and remember,there are times for rest and not renovation in the school of the Master.
That is so lovely, Geoff–thanks for taking the time to write such a wise response to Mazzy. God bless!