Beech Tree News Network

Is the glass half empty or half full? Bad things happen to everyone, but a situation may turn around. Beth Moore said, “A bad storm can blow in a beautiful season. The Bible proves over and over that how something begins does not get to dictate how it ends.” My late husband used to call unexpected events “adventures.” I’ve recently had a few adventures.

Adventure Number One: Have you noticed how much we depend on appliances and electronics? We need many of them. Recently, a sensor on my dryer quit working, and it no longer heated. On the day the repairman fixed my dryer, the security company determined that my system was not working – it wasn’t reporting correctly. A week later – with a new system in place, my home was once again protected. That same morning, as water flowed freely in my utility room, I discovered that my water heater had died. It was replaced the same day. Although I am sadly underfunded, my appliances and electronics are currently all functioning. I hope this adventure has ended – at least for a while.

Adventure Number Two: A couple of decades ago, my late husband built a small building in our backyard. He used it as a work shop. Over the years, its contents had multiplied. The building stored not only tools but also boxes of what my late husband would have called “good and useful items.” It also had boxes of stuff: items from auctions, items from my husband’s years of work, items from who-knows-where. I have procrastinated about cleaning it out; the task seemed overwhelming. Finally, with the help of my family, the building is almost empty, and a large dumpster is nearly full. Though I am sad to add to the landfill, I am delighted that we completed such a massive task.

Adventure Number Three: I love my house, but it has a few age-related challenges. It’s about 70-plus years old with some sloping ceilings and unleveled floors. I seem to have a project on my to-do list most of the time. Because of the three-season sunporch, I put plants upstairs during winter weather; but this may be the last year I carry large clay pots up those steps. Mercifully, family members help me deal with many small issues, such as a cabinet drawer off the track or repairing exterior wood. These mini-adventures are ongoing. Thankfully, I am blessed with helpful family members.

As my late husband would have said, “adventures” happen, and Hermann Hesse said, “…whatever good or bad fortune may come our way, we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value” (https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/10-uplifting-quotes-for-when...). These recent “adventures” have reinforced my belief that bad things or unpleasant tasks are best understood when we reach the other side of them. And I’m praying for a season of rest from “adventures.”