Lesson from the Trenches

Scripture passage that caught my attention today: John 8:56-58 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Observation: This is another ‘big picture’ passage.

Application: This past Friday there was a water leak at the front barn—a water hydrant that had been there for years had worn out. I learned that it would cost about a hundred bucks (plus the price of a new hydrant) to have some good and trusted local contractors do the job. But I like to save where I can, so I got out a shovel and dug down to the water line to see if it might be something that I could fix. To make a long story short, with the help of another local contractor who graciously opened up his shop after hours so that I could get the necessary parts, I personally fixed the whole thing. I was so thankful that it worked out and, to be honest, also proud of myself for figuring out how to fix it myself. It wasn’t till the light of the next morning that I noticed that, while everything functions just fine, I installed the hydrant somewhat crooked—a lasting reminder that there is still a difference between an amateur and a professional! Still, I derived a lot of personal satisfaction from that job—little things I had learned over the years about plumbing paid off.

Over the weekend and yesterday, while I was immersed in personal satisfaction for a job somewhat well done (I was still bragging about it to my father-in-law as recently as last night), our oldest son has been receiving college admission notices. They are excellent opportunities and, it suddenly occurred to me this morning, make my little fix-it-myself project totally and unequivocally pale in comparison.

And that’s exactly the big-picture point. There may be many things in life about which we are proud and/or where we place our focus, but there are only certain things we do that really make a profound difference in the world. After all, later this very week I’ll get to share again the good news of the birth of God’s son to a whole host of people on Christmas Eve. How cool is that!

Yet even that is still just a response to the big picture of what God has already done.

Long before people needed plumbing or even higher education, there was a need for the love of God through Jesus. And according to John, Jesus has been there to fulfill that need. “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” said Jesus.

That’s a big picture worth keeping in mind, whether we’re studying at a premier institution or digging three feet down in the muck.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for just being you, and always being you…and always being there. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: John 7-8)