I thought I’d recovered from the problems I had two weeks ago. I thought I’d stepped onto new ground and everything was going to be fine.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a terrible day. Our electricity was off for more than six hours and my printer died, and I needed to get a new one.
Then, a scammer called and said my daughter was in jail and I needed to give him $2,500 for her bail.
What a day that was. While getting over it all, I had another terrible day.
It was Sunday, and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, and I did our ministry at the assisted living facility, and then that night, we were going to an evening service at another church.
As I was getting ready, Martha said she couldn’t go because she had a migraine headache. That was fine, but another issue arose.
The problem came when I went out to get in my truck — it wouldn’t start. I discovered the battery was dead.
I went into the house and told my wife about my truck, saying I’d have to take her “sissy van” to church. I'm not sure, but I think I heard her giggling as I walked out the door with her keys.
There’s little I hate more than driving that van. To get in on the driver's side, I have to move the seat back as far as it will go. Believe me, it doesn't go back far enough for me. Then, I have to wiggle and wiggle to get into the seat behind the steering wheel.
The next thing to do was move the steering wheel up as far as I could get it so I could sit in that seat. Then I had to adjust all of the mirrors so I could see behind me and on each side.
Finally, after much twisting and turning, I got seated and was ready to start up the engine. The next challenge was buckling the seat belt.
I took a deep sigh and backed out of our driveway and headed down the street toward the church.
Then I got there, and discovered another problem. Getting into that van was difficult, but now getting out was worse. I couldn't get my legs out under the driving wheel, and it took me a while, giggling and twisting. Finally, I got my legs out.
After the service, I went out to the van with a heavy heart. I took a deep breath, opened the door, and then wiggled and twisted my way in behind the steering wheel.
It took several minutes for me to drag my legs in at their proper position. Finally, I got in my seat, started the engine and headed home.
As I recovered, I thought of a Bible verse.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
— 1 Corinthians 10: 13
There’s no problem or struggle in my life that God doesn’t make a way to escape. Praise the Lord.
Dr. Snyder is a former pastor who lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, in Ocala, Fla. His email is [email protected].
