Expect the Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

Friday my brother-in-law and I began the first of a few renovation projects on the house that Angie, Olivia and I call home.  As with any project of this nature we had sky high expectations for success.   Unfortunately, as with any project of this nature, there were unexpected obstacles.

As experienced DIYers this did not discourage us and we pressed on.  One of the great things about having experience is that it teaches you to roll with the punches.  Having been down this road also had shaped our thinking to analyze the situations as they occurred and create workable solutions.  For example on Friday we had purchased a new vanity to install as one of the big ticket items for the renovation of our hall bathroom.  On Saturday when we did a dry-fit prior to installing the flooring we found that there was not enough space allowed at the rear, behind the lower drawer to fit the plumbing up through the cabinet.  This led to a unique situation where there were 5 of us huddled around this drawer twisting, turning, and spinning it in every direction shooting out ideas.  Eventually through some merging of a couple of the thoughts we came to the conclusion to take the bottom panel out of the drawer cut it down by two inches, do the same for the center divider of that drawer and re-attach.  Solution executed flawlessly!

This story can be a metaphor for life as well, and even more so when it is a Christian life.  When we walk through this world, we are told:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, 

prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8 NASB

The lion's prey rarely knows what is about to hit them.  The lion stalks, plots, and approaches in a very skillful way.  We too often fail to see the approaching lion that is Satan, and the plots and temptations he is bringing into our lives.  When we fall victim to his plotting the fate of the victim awaits us as well, death, not only a physical death, but a spiritual death.

In spiritual matters it pays to be like an experienced DIYer, and use the wisdom we have gained in the past to help us through the struggles of the present.  Knowing that anytime we start a renovation there will be unexpected obstacles keeps us from being overwhelmed by them.  The same can be said of our journey of faith, the pitfalls that we face can be minimized by using the experiences we have collected from our past.  The fact that scripture provides many examples of not only successes of its heroes, but the struggles as well, provides us rich fodder to understand the challenges we too may face.

This week rely upon the experiences you have encountered to guide you in solving new problems. Let your intuition work for you, as it has been developed and refined over time to aid you when troubles come calling.  With experience comes insight, use it well and MAKE TODAY GREAT!