Another normal day on which to choose for God, not Paul, as the ultimate Emperor of God's world.
A world where I find I am an immature, foolish, frail, weak, poor, reactive creature; on an obstacle-course-like-adventure requiring maturity, wisdom, strength, endurance, and much rich ability.
The big question seems to be: "Will I trust the invisible source of life, creative love, and goodness? Or try to go it alone?"
Last week. ..
A teacher from a local school rings to book me as a casual teacher for either Mon or Tue of this week. My wife, Katrina, has the Monday off, so I say "Tuesday", the teacher confirms and we hang up… But in putting it into my calendar I note that Tuesday is booked for a "cystoscopy" at the hospital. So I immediately ring back the teacher who booked me, and am able to change it to Monday instead. Thank you God, for helping me to remember to write this down, and look it up, and think to act immediately (many times I have not done any one of these).
The weekend. ..
Recently, we've been flat out, trying to be ready for an event just gone, and one at the end of this month, but, sometime on the week-end… while driving the car around, to some important but not urgent thing, I get a remembrance/ inkling that the car "Registration" was due earlier than I thought it was (which was in two months time)… It is not until Sunday arvo that I get a few minutes to check my emails.. "Oh no, it's due tomorrow (Monday)". I find a list on the internet of local businesses that can do it. None are open Sunday. I am due to be at school at 8:15am Monday, and I'm a casual teacher, on duty, till ~3:30pm. Thank you God for that remembrance, and being able to make a time to check!
Monday. ..
No responses to my phone calls on the way to school, while my Katrina drives. No time to ring during the day. So, I contentedly enjoy what I do have time for, with whom I am. As I walk out of school, I start ringing through the list… the place that did it last year has an engaged tone, every time I ring. Most can fit me in - in about 3 weeks' time. Katrina drops me off at the place that was engaged (they are "closed" permanently?), and at 4 other places, & I ring others. Finally I find a tyre place that can fit me in Tuesday arvo (the next day, better than 3 weeks time). Wow. Thank you God!
Maybe I'll be finished at hospital by then? But no, even if I am out, I'm not supposed to drive for 24 hrs after my general anesthetic. We'll have to see how it works. And, the car can only be driven from home straight to the mechanic's, then straight home, unless it passes, and we can serendipitously straightaway register it online. Katrina's work is 5 blocks away from the safety check place. She might be able to leave it there in the morning and walk the rest of the way to work. I might have to ride my push bike, but then can I walk or ride home? Katrina thinks not. Eek, help us work this out please God (meanwhile, as Jesus taught us to think: "No use to worry"). I will trust you to help us somehow (even if the car "fails", and we have to walk, ride, or get public transport), I've seen you make horror stories into blessed things. Thank you.
I get the thought to ask my local community if anyone has the time and transport etc to drop me off and pick me up. Within a short time Graeme offers to, in their family car. Thank you God for giving me a family beyond by "nuclear family", & for them partnering with you (& me).
Tuesday. ..
Early this morning, I remember a neighbour telling me that one of the car's brake lights wasn't working. Before an early morning coffee Graeme (from two doors down) checks it with me. Yup, the left one is shot. Rats! Oh well God will help somehow or other. We plan options that come to mind about buying a globe from an auto electrician near the tyre place and fixing it on the way to the hospital. Graeme's wife Bev says: What about the old (unregistered) car of the same model in front of it (kept for spares). Graeme & I go "Duh, of course!". I find and exchange the globe, and in the process see a panel that I have damaged jack-kniffing a trailer into it. I find a bolt and just have time to fix it roughly. Well, God, thanks for my neighbour who told me weeks ago, for helping me remember it, for Graeme's help, for Bev's ability to observe and suggest, and helping me to be determined to ring back when I missed their call. And then for helping me to notice the panel damage, and get it done just in time for Katrina to get to drop it off and still get to work, and in time for Graeme to be able to drop me at the hospital. Whew… that's all before 9am.
A Mr. Bean moment or two. Then into the operating suit. I am still COVID negative. They get me into the operating room quickly. There is a tumour in the bladder, the kind that is least likely to be a problem, but it is all cut out, & cauterized. Don't see the specialist for a month, by which time results should be back. Graeme picks me up, & I join him & Bev for lunch, do some writing, and the safety check place rings about putting two new tyres on, and two more bulbs. Should still be ready on time, by ~4pm. I let Katrina know and have a snooze. At 5pm (when they shut) the safety check place rings to say they are about to shut… Are we going to collect the car, and pay? I say I can pay by card now. But I can't find my credit card that is linked to the phone, that I mostly use nowadays. And Katrina is just finishing up at work (she's had a busy day). Graeme helps out again, and drops me with my phone down there. I pay with my phone. It glitches, and doesn't work. It is nearly 5:15pm. I know to not give up, even when at first I do not succeed. Then it does work. Thank you God! It all goes through. He tells me it is possible to complete the rego on line now, even though it is now 5:15pm. I walk out of the safety check place as Katrina gets to the door. She drives home, while I start to do the rego online. She cooks dinner while I complete the rego. It works. The dinner is delicious. Katrina runs out to a meeting at the council. I sit down here on the lounge, and say "Wow! What a Tuesday!" & write this to help me recall and value it, & to recall & value who has shared it with me, and who will share it with me. .. Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for adding to the conversation...