And I Thought I Had It Bad

I was driving home from a busy day and as best as I could tell, much had been accomplished. There was one item on my list that I had not accomplished and as I mulled it over, it was bugging me big time. The main reason for the drive to town today was for a doctor’s appointment. However, when I arrived I was promptly informed I had missed it by two hours!

Reflecting upon my mishap, tears came easily. While in the midst of many changes in life, I’d bit off too much in too many directions. Although I’d gotten most of the items checked off my list, missing the appointment hung heavy. Looking back, apparently I had placed it correctly on my calendar, but not on my list of to-dos. To say I was disappointed didn’t begin to cover the emotions felt at the moment.

While making my way back home, I glanced at the car just ahead of me in the lane to my right. I noted the gray tones of the vehicle matched the clouds hiding any glimmer of hope that the sun might shine. However, when I got a little closer to the vehicle, I caught a glimmer of shimmer of another sort. As I got closer to the other car, I could see more clearly that which I was looking at.

I squinted to make sure I was seeing correctly that which was before me. I passed slowly by in order to get a good look and make sure my eyes did not deceive. Sure enough, what I thought I saw—is definitely what I saw. Holding the whole bumper together was Duct Tape! Now, I know what you’re thinking. You are thinking—Oh, I’ve seen the likes of that before. No, no you have not. This was no small duct tape job. The duct tape was artistically matched on all four sides and if I would have had access to the driver, I would have told them to set up shop. It was that good!

I wasn’t sure how legal it was, but for the moment, it was holding things together as they drove on down the road. It was going at a rate of 60 miles per hour and not a thing was dangling that threatened to tumble on down the highway.

As I thought about my day, I decided I really didn’t have it all that bad. After all, I did complete most of what was on my list of things to do without getting into a fender bender that needed duct tape to hold it all together. No, the work I needed was interior. The fixing up of the interior work could only be done by the Craftsman who created my thought process that unravels rapidly some days.

I need not be focusing on the downward turn of events. Looking toward creative ways to fix my problem might bring an overall arching theme of trusting that it all will work out as it is supposed to. Looking forward to the next appointment would be a good beginning in which to end the day.

“We make our plans yet God orders our footsteps” (Prov. 16:9). It’s that simple.

“And I thought I had it bad” was my initial thought upon seeing the little gray duct taped car. But the more I thought about it, I’m not so sure the driver of that car has it so bad either. After all—He’s ordering her footsteps, too. Amen.

Kathleen Kjolhaug, OblSB

This article was first published in Theology in the Trenches, a column written by oblate Kathleen Kjolhaug. Posted with permission. Read more articles on her blog, Theology in the Trenches.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash