The odyssey began almost one month ago, when my car started running funny. It turned out that I had a cracked cylinder head on the engine. The mechanic told me that it would cost a little over $2,000 to fix it. I didn't have the money to do the repairs, so I reluctanly took a small loan to pay for them. A week later, I got the car back and it seemed all was right with the world. WRONG!
Nine days. That's how long it took before the next round of calamities hit. My son had been just finished working, and had dvds that needed to be returned to the video store. While on the way to the video store, he took a turn (at 25mph) too sharply. He tried to compensate his turn, but accidentaly overcompensated - thus ending up on a tall median curb. The airbags deployed, the frame bent and the radiator was torn open (it should also be noted that this car was only covered by PLPD insurance coverage). Suddenly I went from having two cars, to having one car and a $2,000 loan for a totalled car. Yes, my son was alright - and that was the first question I asked when he called to tell me what happened.
I thought things had sunk to the bottom, but discovered it's never so bad, that it can't seem to get worse. I don't mean this in a mad-at-God kinda way. It has really taught me a great deal of patience and trust in God. At first, you ask the "why" questions and get frustrated. Then, once you've let your mind slow down a bit, you think back about where God has brought you from, and you gauge it against your current situation. Sometimes you realize just how far you've come since then and how God might be using this situation to teach and grow you somehow.
The funniest part of this story (at least it is now) happened last week. I was watching a movie with my wife last Wednesday night. My wife got tired and went to bed and I got hungry. Now some of you may not know this, but I have an upper denture (that's right - false teeth). Well, I took them out for a reason I cannot recall. But, I set them on the end table next to the sofa and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. I came back, sat down and finished watching the movie. When it was over, I got up and got ready for bed. I went to brush my teeth and realized my false teeth were not in my mouth. Now I know you'd think I'd notice right away, but once you get used to wearing them - it begins to feel normal with them in or out. So, I came out to look for them, but they weren't there. I pondered where I had set them and remembered I had earlier played some video games in my son's room upstairs. I checked there too. Nothing. Now I was starting to get concerned. To make matters worse, it was already 11:30 and I had to go back to work the next morning at 5am for work. I looked and I looked. I got my wife up and we both looked. I got my wife and my kids to help and we combed the house....looking for dad's teeth! At 12:40, I had exhausted all possible hiding places that I could think of. I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and gave up and went to bed. I got up the next morning and looked a bit, but with no luck. I went to work (with no upper teeth mind you) and did my job - as a police and fire dispatcher! Don't think I didn't have a few people asking me to repeat things! I would have thought it more comical had I not been so concerned about where my 'lost chompers' were. I came home from work, looked some more and had no luck.
Later in evening, I was in another room when I heard my wife yell, "Ohhh myyyyy!" I ran into the living room to find my wife holding my missing teeth. Only, these were no longer my missing teeth. They were now what was left of what my dog considered a chew toy! All that remained was the piece that covered the roof of my mouth and two back teeth. I cannot tell you the feelings that coursed through my mind and body. BUT, remember what I said about God bringin you farther along that where you once were? Here was a prime example. The old me, would have come unglued and wanted to create a new 'beagle-skin cap.' But, in that moment of shock and bewilderment over what had happened, I found myself understanding that it was in my dog's nature to want to chew on things that smelled good to him. It wasn't his fault. I had ben the one to foolishly leave my teeth laying where he could get to them. Although I do have to admit, that his stunt has led to a few funny one liners such as:
- "That's one meal that probably had a lot of bite to it."
- "Ben's bark isn't as bad as MY bite."
- "That denture was something he could really sink his teeth into."
So, I had to go a week with out my teeth. I spent five days working without them and what's even funnier, is I sang in all seven Easteer weekend services without them! But alas, all good things (if you can call this one) come to an end, and yesterday, I got my new set up teeth. Below is a picture of my chewed up teeth and a picture of what they look like compared to my new pair. This was a very exspensive lesson, but I learned to trust God and lean on him for strength - and a reasonable sense of diction. It's time like this that I really fall back on my favorite verse. "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
2 comments:
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