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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Does Your Roof Leak
October 12, 2005
This morning I am in my office and I cannot help but hear the
constant drip of rain water leaking through and falling into a
precisely placed bucket. I look up and see that my ceiling is dotted
with water marks and ready to break away along one seam. A glance
at the newspaper tells me that rain is being predicted through the
weekend and there is no end in sight. Over the last few days I have
been doing things that would lead you to believe that I am about to
abandon ship. Furniture has been moved out to the chapel area. The
photo collages have been removed from the walls. Today I am
packing up my precious collection of Detroit Tiger collectibles and
moving them to higher ground. You might think my office was in
New Orleans or somewhere along the Gulf Coast. The truth is that
these kind of things happen right here in Southeastern Connecticut
too.
We all know people who find themselves in the middle of a desperate
situation. One minute they are enjoying the perks of a good job, a
nice relationship, the company of good friends. The next minute they
are assaulted by one of the storms of life that threatens to capsize
them and throw them into a whirlpool that they might never escape
from. These situations can be overwhelming. They leave us feeling
paralyzed and alone.
As I look at my ceiling I can see no bright outcome. It is a mess. So
it is with our lives when divorce, lay-offs and illness settle on our
doorstep. The first thing many of us do is ask why this is happening.
We try to find out who or what is responsible. We want justice and
vindication. Too often that road leads to even more problems. It
leads to a growing sense of despair and the feeling that we have little
or no say in the events of our lives. Even worse, we might even find
out, if we are honest with ourselves, that we bear some of the blame.
A more constructive way to deal with these misfortunes is to step
back, analyze what needs to be done and then take action. That is
what Jesus did. When confronted with decisions, or when he faced
crowds with incredible needs, Jesus always took time to pray. He
went to God with the problem and came away with the solution. Then
he tackled the problem head on. David did the same thing. Read
through the Psalms and you will note that David often sounds at the
point of despair at the outset. He concludes though, with the
confidence that God will see him through.
Yesterday I not only started moving furniture, I called a couple of
roofing companies. We will take care of this leak. I will also take
this opportunity to repaint my office, rearrange the furniture and
redecorate the walls. It will be better than before. You see,
sometimes we can turn these misfortunes into new beginnings. We
can take the tragedy and turn it into triumph. God is especially good
at that. After all, He turned the nightmare of the crucifixion into the
victory of the resurrection and the promise of salvation to all who
will believe. So He can turn your situation around too. So is the world
falling on your head? Don’t just sit there in despair. Look to God and
He will help you find a way to rebuild your life and fill it with new
blessings.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal
October 12, 2005
This morning I am in my office and I cannot help but hear the
constant drip of rain water leaking through and falling into a
precisely placed bucket. I look up and see that my ceiling is dotted
with water marks and ready to break away along one seam. A glance
at the newspaper tells me that rain is being predicted through the
weekend and there is no end in sight. Over the last few days I have
been doing things that would lead you to believe that I am about to
abandon ship. Furniture has been moved out to the chapel area. The
photo collages have been removed from the walls. Today I am
packing up my precious collection of Detroit Tiger collectibles and
moving them to higher ground. You might think my office was in
New Orleans or somewhere along the Gulf Coast. The truth is that
these kind of things happen right here in Southeastern Connecticut
too.
We all know people who find themselves in the middle of a desperate
situation. One minute they are enjoying the perks of a good job, a
nice relationship, the company of good friends. The next minute they
are assaulted by one of the storms of life that threatens to capsize
them and throw them into a whirlpool that they might never escape
from. These situations can be overwhelming. They leave us feeling
paralyzed and alone.
As I look at my ceiling I can see no bright outcome. It is a mess. So
it is with our lives when divorce, lay-offs and illness settle on our
doorstep. The first thing many of us do is ask why this is happening.
We try to find out who or what is responsible. We want justice and
vindication. Too often that road leads to even more problems. It
leads to a growing sense of despair and the feeling that we have little
or no say in the events of our lives. Even worse, we might even find
out, if we are honest with ourselves, that we bear some of the blame.
A more constructive way to deal with these misfortunes is to step
back, analyze what needs to be done and then take action. That is
what Jesus did. When confronted with decisions, or when he faced
crowds with incredible needs, Jesus always took time to pray. He
went to God with the problem and came away with the solution. Then
he tackled the problem head on. David did the same thing. Read
through the Psalms and you will note that David often sounds at the
point of despair at the outset. He concludes though, with the
confidence that God will see him through.
Yesterday I not only started moving furniture, I called a couple of
roofing companies. We will take care of this leak. I will also take
this opportunity to repaint my office, rearrange the furniture and
redecorate the walls. It will be better than before. You see,
sometimes we can turn these misfortunes into new beginnings. We
can take the tragedy and turn it into triumph. God is especially good
at that. After all, He turned the nightmare of the crucifixion into the
victory of the resurrection and the promise of salvation to all who
will believe. So He can turn your situation around too. So is the world
falling on your head? Don’t just sit there in despair. Look to God and
He will help you find a way to rebuild your life and fill it with new
blessings.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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