INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday I found myself just wanting everything to be done. I guess I should explain that a little further huh? You see, the restoration at the church since Milton, well it’s taking time, and you all know me, I’m a get it done and let’s move on kind of person. We’re taking additional time after this hurricane, to make changes as we restore. For instance, putting in epoxy floors instead of vinyl tile, looking at floodproof “drywall” instead of the conventional, so it’s taking additional time. Meanwhile, everything is displaced and ya, everyone’s a little weary, including the contractors who are trying to work around each other in different spaces.

At one point yesterday, our front desk admin came into my office saying there was a driver in the parking lot with a pallet of epoxy and wasn’t sure where to go. I wandered out and chatted with the man and asked him to pull around back and I’d meet him there. I knew the guys working in the rooms were waiting for this shipment, so I headed there to connect the lead guy with the driver, easy peasy, or so I thought.

I stepped into one of our Sunday school rooms and called to Deon, the lead on the floor team. He came out and I explained there was a shipment coming, the truck was just backing in. We walked together to the truck, and the driver came down asking where he was to put the pallet. Well, that’s when things went awry.

The next thing I know, these two guys are yelling at each other. “Don’t talk to me that way, I’m not one of your workers”. “What do you mean treating me like that”… Or something to that effect. My goodness, I honestly felt like I was in the middle of the twilight zone! What in the world had just happened that set these two off in such a way?

I stepped in between them, ya probably not the best plan as they were both significantly bigger than me 🙂 . Anyway, I just said, “Guys, guys, don’t do this, calm down already”. Again, another round of yelling, OY! Once again, I said, “Please, stop, calm down, and let’s get this taken care of and you can both get back to what you were doing”. At that point, Deon, the lead flooring guy looks at me and says, “Come on, let’s go, I’ll call his supervisor” and walks off. And yes, as you can imagine the driver goes on another rant. By now I’m thinking, seriously Lord, how in the world do I handle this one?

The driver at this point is in the truck and begins to unload the pallet. He had threatened to just leave it in the parking lot. As he lowered the pallet and stepped down, he began to move my way. I said, “Thank you for doing this, and you know, don’t let other people’s words make your day miserable. You can choose how to react, and letting yourself get angry, well, that doesn’t do you any good, other than make for a lousy day.” He gave just a little bit of a rant this time, saying how he was having a great conversation with his brother on the way to our place, and “this guy here, ruins my mood totally”. I patted him on the back as we walked and just said, “I appreciate what your doing, don’t let the actions of others take away from the good in your day”.

I grabbed the packing list off the pallet, and the driver and I checked everything and agreed all was in order. He asked me to please sign the slip, shook my hand, and said “Have a nice day”. I thanked him again and off he went. Back in the classroom I gave the packing slip to Deon and said, “I believe everything is there from what I can see”. He too thanked me and apologized for things getting out of hand.

Friends, I think satan is doing his best right now to drive wedges into wherever he can. He doesn’t care if it’s between families, friends, or even total strangers, he is meddling wherever he can. Well, we need to step in between and put a stop to his meddling. When we bring the love of Jesus to the fight, satan simply can’t compete.

So, whatever you’ve got going on in your life, don’t let the evil one drive the situation. Step in with Jesus by your side and say no, not today. Instead, handle the situation with all the love you can muster knowing that your actions can indeed make a difference.

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit this morning. Have a great day, and please continue to lift prayers for sweet Emily Rea, and for Jim.

Mark 4:39
And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.