The Crucible of Inconvenience

     This morning I went out to start my car like I do every morning. There was a difference, however. My car wouldn’t start! For reasons yet to be discovered, the engine responded with a rr-rr-rr-rr instead of firing right up. I have my uneducated suspicions, based solely on conjecture, but for the moment, I am sipping hot coffee at Sweet One-O-One, nursing an injured heart that is - well, is angry.
     As I mentioned, the morning began like so many, completely unaware of the upcoming circumstantial environment. I woke up, prayed with my wife, got a cup of fresh coffee and read. Moments later, my wife and I, when she arrives downstairs, sit at the kitchen table for a robust discussion. We talk about all kinds of stuff. This morning, I remember my final comments: character formation occurs in the crucible of hardship, much like the alloy of iron and carbon in an iron foundry. Those thoughts were fading into silence as I went outside, into the cold air to get into the car. That is when I discovered it!
     RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Immediately my emotions stirred. RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Instead of the engine firing up, my frustration did! I felt my body shake. I wanted to scream and kick. I wanted to throw a fit and blame someone, anyone, for this inconvenience! Keeping my external behaviors in check, I walked back into the house to begin considering how to resolve this particular problem. My wife lovingly allowed me the space I needed to search frantically for a phone book. She listened quietly as I mumbled to myself. I wanted to simply scream and yell. I wanted to come unraveled for a few brief moments. But I know far too well my angry heart can spew out insensitive, cutting attitudes. So, I used all my strength to suppress the barbaric aggression as I prayed for God to help me maintain some semblance of control.
     Once the necessary phone numbers were obtained, I decided to go to the coffee shop and cool off. Being it was only 7:00am, the idea of waiting until 9:00am or later seemed far too long. Getting a lift from my Mother-in-law, I arrived at the café and began writing. While there, I ran into a couple of people I knew. As we exchanged the usual pleasantries, I decided to also share a brief description of my morning. It helped. But what is really doing me good is journaling - and praying. God will carry me and I know the importance of connecting with others. The outcome will be alright. The journey, however, is another matter.
     Circumstantial environment is a crucible. Heating the crucible is the fire of inconvenience. Changing my routine may seem rather benign from the outside, yet the internal, emotional response exposes a malignancy! The temporal experience of inconvenience, in the larger view, is not such a bad thing. It is something that rarely occurs which makes it seem so frustrating. Yet, I have listened to many men share struggles much more involved and distressing - and God has blessed them through it! May God have mercy and forgive my self-centered attitudes.
     How is God growing you? How are you dealing with that? Who do you share your struggles with? Don’t try to go it alone…He is deeply passionate about your life and desires to see you flourish in his Son’s image!