Toothpaste and Fig Leaves

We talk throughout the year about our fellow citizens being good and kind and generous. I normally don't offer my opinion on that, like, "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked...", or "There is no one good, no not one..."

But doesn't Black Friday tell a different, more accurate tale of who we are? When you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, do mashed potatoes come out? When you squeeze someone looking for a bargain (printed or 'five-finger') won't their toothpaste come out.

People were arrested in a local department store today. We ask, "What have we become?" This question shows our lack of understanding of biblical truth. We have not "become" selfish me-centered jerks. We have always been selfish me-centered jerks.

What we have become are people very good at disguising our toothpaste. Or could I say, covering our toothpaste with fig leaves?

Joy in Frustration

Before I jump into what I am going to write about, let me jump to the end: I have been experiencing joy today. Now, back to this morning.

Woke up tired, cold (conserving wood), slight headache. I picked up our chainsaw to try a couple more things. It hadn't cooperated all weekend, which has put us seriously behind on fire wood.

Nothing.

I called a friend who suggested I should tear apart the carb. Really? I'm no mechanic even by redneck standards. Just don't really know enjuns. But why not. I carefully tore it down, cleaned it, rebuilt it according to my careful pictures I took along the way...

Nothing.

"God, are you aware that we have very little fire wood and I want to keep my family warm?"

"Duh." Not His exact wording, but close.

So I picked up the splitting maul and began on a large pile of logs we've collected to split later. During a break, I called the same friend. He suggested a new spark plug. Really? Really? You think $2.50 will fix my problem?

I called Michelle and asked her to look for one. Then back out to the pile to split more wood. On my way out there I was overcome with peace that it's going to be ok. I asked myself, "Are YOU aware that we have very little fire wood?" I gave myself the same answer God did.

I continued splitting, enjoying the need to be outside, enjoying the brisk air, enjoying the slight snow falling, enjoying the thud of the maul in the oak.

I tell you the truth. I really don't know why I was peaceful and joyful, except that God is maybe changing me? Not sure, just that I was enjoying time.

When Michelle returned home, I grabbed my $2.50 in a box that looked much like a spark plug and proceeded to the tool shed.

"It can't be this easy, but I know God will provide." Another moment of joy filled me.

Now, please don't get me wrong. I'm not filled with joy, nor have I learned what it means to live a joy filled life. I'm simply saying, baby steps. God has allowed me to take one small step toward living in joy even when the bad keeps being bad. As our Pastor David Gidcumb recently preached, "What about when bad things stay bad?"

No, I'm still nervous about having enough fire wood, but I'm not depressed or anxious or trying to cut down trees with my pocket knife. Nope, don't have huge amounts of faith either.

Oh, wait. I have a chainsaw in my hands. Wondered why my arms were getting so tired.

So, I stepped out of the tool shop, cranked it a few times.....

and it worked! Praise the Lord. Thank you, friend, for your advice. Thank You, Jesus, that spark plugs don't cost $250! Thank you, friend of 2 years ago, for providing this trusty chainsaw for us.

And the best part? I had no more joy after the saw emitted it's throaty growl and smoke belched from the exhaust than when I was struggling with it not working.

Wait. No more joy when it worked? That's right. Circumstances aren't supposed to dictate our level of joy. That's what excited me the most. I was happy, but not more joyful. I had a worship service and thanked my Savior for providing.

Just one small step in my spiritual growth.