Pratt: How we handle small irritations indicates how we respond to challenges
I've seen a considerable number of hail storms, but last week was my first to hear the really big ice missiles pounding with 50-60 mph impact on our roof and walls.
Two skylights and one north window are broken.
As badly as we need rain in this dry countryside, we are fortunate that a deluge of rain or tornado did not accompany or follow the battering of jagged ice hitting with rock-like noise.
Otherwise we would have water damage to deal with inside the house. Now we are hoping repairs will come about sooner rather than later.
Knowing that possible tornado warnings were on the radar report for our area, I turned on the light in the basement as TV images of recently destroyed homes flashed in my memory.
Things can be repaired or replaced, I reminded myself. The pounding stopped and we were still sheltered as the storm moved from northeast to southeast. Our electricity was off, but just as I began lighting the first candle, it came back on, thanks to our diligent, courageous workers at Lighthouse Electric Coop.
Off and on throughout the night, I awakened to the sound of light rain. Each time I went upstairs to see if my hastily prepared “water-catchers” were in the correct place under the skylight that had lost its top layer and had a big leaking crack in the final layer.
At 5 a.m. I had recharged my energy enough to start moving things that could be damaged or destroyed by water leaks. Five hours later, I paused and realized I had accomplished more than I thought possible.
All this to say that how we handle the small irritations in life indicate how we are likely to respond to the big challenges that come our way. So, the sooner we learn to relax and do what needs to be done in the moment, the more likely we are to see good come out of what at first may have made us weep and wail.
People who can only move out of panic are more susceptible to bad endings than those who learn to take each challenge as it comes. That's what God is telling us when he inspired writers to caution against worry...take action now to prepare for those times when disaster strikes.
Unfortunately, humankind has a record of creating storms that ravage, displace and create havoc throughout the world as one group seeks to conquer another.
The Prophet Jeremiah often had reason to weep, so much so that he is called the “weeping prophet.” He even said to his mother that he was sorry she gave birth to him!
He was discouraged and afraid because the people of Judah were disobedient and unfaithful to God, but the prophet didn't relish the idea of giving them God's unwelcome message.
“I am the one who must accuse and criticize the whole land,” he says, knowing his words will put him in danger of retribution. (Find the story in the 15th chapter of Jeremiah, “The Everyday Bible” translation.)
Although he faithfully transmits the bad news that God's anger at the people's sins is soon to be realized, Jeremiah knows that he also will suffer the consequences of their evil behaviors.
“I don't understand why my pain has no end, he says,” adding, “I don't understand why my injury is not cured or healed! … Will you be like a spring whose water stops flowing?”
God reassures the despairing Jeremiah, saying, “If you change your heart and come back to me, I will take you back. Then you may serve me.”
But there are conditions: “I will take you bake. Then you may serve me. You must speak things that have worth. Your must not speak useless words. Then you may speak for me,” God says, promising Jeremiah to save him from those who are evil and cruel.
Although the times are different, we learn that people have a tendency to repeat error, thus losing freedom so costly won by ancestors.
We must make difficult choices – do we take what appears at first to be the harder road of the faithful – in modern poetic terms, “the path least traveled” – or do we follow the crowd on the broad road to eventual destruction?
Beth Pratt retired as religion editor from the Avalanche-Journal after 25 years. You can email her at beth.pratt@cheerful.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Pratt: How we handle small irritations indicates how we respond to challenges
