Learning Lessons

Or needing help?

 

 

Somewhere in time, last Saturday, my car broke down.  This is something that can happen to anyone, but I think God was using it to teach me a lesson.

Galatians 5:22-23New King James Version (NKJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

I know the first of the spirit, I have read this verse many times, but God was giving me the opportunity to put it in practice. 

I had gone to the grocery store and I had pulled my car right up to a concrete planter.  In the planter was a tree.  I then went to put my car in park and it wouldn’t go into park.  I couldn’t put it in reverse either, my only option was drive and well, there was a concrete planter right in front of me so I wasn’t driving anywhere.  I sat for a few minutes and tried everything I could think of to no avail.  What made everything a little worse is my keys don’t come out unless my car is in park. 

My first thought was a plea for help.  I needed help. I needed wisdom.  I really wasn’t sure what to do.

The manufacturer of my car offers roadside assistance, but alas, I am three months out of warranty.  I had a backup plan, my insurance offers road side assistance.  I called them and they said a tow truck would be there with in sixty minutes.  This is where the fruit of the spirit lessons really began.

First of all, my first instinct is not to be “longsuffering” I don’t have patience for most things and I really hate not having something to so.  I couldn’t go into the store since I couldn’t lock my car or remove my keys.  I had to sit and wait.  I rifled through every nook and cranny to find something, anything to read.  I found a small book my husband had in the glove compartment, which helped.

Sixty minutes passed and no tow truck.  I called again.  This was my opportunity to show kindness and goodness – that is really hard when you’re frustrated, but I did my best.  I was then told it would be another 30 minutes.  Unfortunately by this time I had drunk the bottle of water I had with me and I really needed to leave the car – but I couldn’t.  My prayers were now for a speedy arrival of the truck.  Well needless to say, 30 minutes later, I was calling again.

Gentleness, kindness goodness – all things I knew I needed to display and all things hard when you are hot, frustrated and a little frantic, but this verse would not leave my head, so I did my best.

The tow truck finally showed up and got my car to the dealership.  The dealership fixed the problem and it didn’t cost me anything, which is another positive. 

Thinking back, I may have been focusing on the fruit of the spirit.  After all, I’m been known to be unkind when people tell me something and don’t deliver. I thought that is what I was learning, but really I was learning is that God is my help.

Psalm 46:1New King James Version (NKJV)

46 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble

Sometime calling out to God is enough.   

 

 

 

Inspired Painter

or Rebel

 

 

Somewhere in time, or for the last few Saturdays, I haven’t posted a new blog. That is unusual for me, I have posted one every Saturday for over two years.  A few weeks back I had posted a blog about to test or not to test.  One reason I missed a Saturday was due to a test. My company prefers its employees pass an industry standard test.  The Saturday before last, I had to take the test.  I passed, so I can breathe easier now.

After that, the company I work for wanted to get all of the people in my department together, so I had to fly to a different state for a few days.  Corporate America is a little funny. They get people together to try and create unity.  One day, my Boss sent us on a team building assignment.  We went to a studio where an artist was giving us instructions on how to paint a picture.

Doing something creative was a fun change.  Something about me that may be a little boring is I am a rule follower.  If there is a sign that says “No talking” I don’t talk – okay, maybe I break the speed limit on occasion, but I’m even getting better about that. The reason I mention this now is what I did this night was a little out of character for me.

The colors we would be using were all set out and the blank canvas in front of us. She showed us a picture of what we would be doing and then she told us what colors to start with and where on the canvas to begin.  Up to this point, I am following her every direction.  She then said to do cross strokes with the brush. 

When my brush hit canvas, I felt a small nudge to do it different. Instead of cross strokes, I did smooth blended lines.  Up to this point, I think I’m still going to get back to what she is doing.  But as I paint, a still small voice says this is a sunset.  The instructor had us do half the canvas and then flip it to do the other half.  The same thing happens and this time, I knew it was the ocean.  By the time I have finished that half, I’m no longer listening to the artist leading the class.  I brighten up the center for the effect of the sun; I ran its reflection across the water.  I had finished a completely different picture.

I shocked myself; this is not like me at all.  I felt a little bad for ignoring the instructions of the teacher.  Looking at all my co-workers, they all had some semblance of the picture the instructor was shooting for, only I stood out, only I was a rebel.

God used this to remind me that he did not create me to conform to the world, but to be transformed. 

Romans 12:2New King James Version (NKJV)

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I would love to tell you that the painting is wonderful. I do know it was inspired, but it still had to come through my frail and human hands.  When I checked out of the hotel, the person who took my keys stared amazingly at my painting and asked where I got it. I felt pretty good for a few minutes and then I thought they might be paid to make the customer feel special.  Anyway, it was a fun way to learn a lesson.  It doesn’t matter if I’m not as good as another person at something.  It doesn’t matter that I’m not noticed for the talent and skill I have or don’t have.  What matters is that God is transforming me into the person He wants me to me.