Judy A Knox

Dewdrops of Grace

Geared Up Right

MotorcyclecopyLast weekend a friend and former colleague was in a serious motorcycle accident. He was out for a ride with his motorcycle group, sailing along in the sunshine, when he took a sudden turn into a patch of gravel. The bike slid, and he went down. Result: five broken ribs, two fractured ribs, and a broken shoulder blade. Following motorcycle accident protocol, the EMTs had him airlifted to the nearest Class 1 trauma center.

He’s in the hospital now and in a lot of pain, but he is alive. He had no head injuries or broken limbs, thanks to a wide assortment of protective clothing and equipment. His completely demolished helmet now hangs on the wall of the motorcycle shop to demonstrate its effectiveness in protecting him. The engine guards, metal bars designed to keep a rolled-over bike from crushing the rider’s legs, did their job too. (You can see them behind the front wheel, with their black plastic covers.) And his layers of protective clothing kept his skin from being scraped and torn to shreds.

Recounting the accident and its aftermath, he told me the paramedics, the helicopter pilots, and the ER staff all made the same comment: “He was geared up right.” He had used and worn every possible protection, just in case the unthinkable happened. Medical personnel see so many accident victims who were careless in their preparations, and they see the heartbreaking results of those riders’ mishaps.

Of course this brought to mind the spiritual armor God has given us as described in Ephesians 6:13-17: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the good news of the Gospel, and the helmet of salvation, to protect us against attacks of the enemy. But I think being geared up right involves more than that. When I go out to “do my day,” what kinds of attitudes am I wearing? Am I looking for opportunities to bless others, or making decisions based on what’s in it for me? Am I ready to share God’s love and grace, or to judge and criticize? Am I being a light in the darkness, or a carrier of doom and discouragement?

In Colossians 3:12 and 14 we are told, “You must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… Above all, clothe yourselves with love…” If I take a sudden turn into a patch of gravel, my response will quickly show what kind of gear I have chosen to put on. Although I may encounter some painful situations, walking in godly attitudes will protect me and keep me from doing and saying things that could make matters even worse. And whatever happens, I’m sure to recover much more quickly if I have gone into the situation geared up right.

The Fun Way to Live

thA refrigerator is a blessing. I can’t imagine having to live way back when, without this convenience that we take for granted. It’s a marvel – until the power goes out or the fridge breaks down. But even then,  we know the situation is temporary and the handy appliance will soon be up and running again.

One November day during my first year in my condo, the fridge died. It wasn’t a very good one and was small for the space allotted in the kitchen. It was nothing like the nice one I had in my previous home. In fact, I was pretty sure someone had pulled a switch before I moved in and this wasn’t even the refrigerator that had been in the unit when I initially looked at it. But it did keep the food cold – until it decided it didn’t want to any more.

I took advantage of the chilly weather to use my balcony for temporary food storage, filling laundry baskets with food and carting them out there

When this happened, I was reminded of the scripture in Romans 8:28 that says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” So I said, “Lord, I love you and I am called according to your purpose. I can hardly wait to see how you’re going to work this together for good for me.”

The owners of the unit asked me if I would go to the appliance store and find a refrigerator like the one that had broken down, buy it, and make arrangements for delivery. I could deduct the price from my next rent check. In a moment of inspiration I said I would be glad to, but could I buy one that I really liked instead, and pay them the difference between the replacement model and the model of my choice? They agreed to that.

As it turned out, a refrigerator exactly like the one I had left behind was on sale that weekend. The difference between the small replacement fridge and the nice one with all the bells and whistles I wanted was only $400. So, for $400 I had a brand-new $1,4000 fridge! And then, when I purchased the condo a few months later, that nice new refrigerator was already there. The new refrigerator more than made up for the inconvenience of storing food on my balcony for a few days. God really did make that whole situation work together for good for me.

When something goes wrong, it is very tempting to get upset and say, “Why is this happening to me?” But God is always looking for opportunities to bless us. When we’re really thinking clearly, we’ll remember to say, “Lord, I can hardly wait to see how you’re going to make this work to together for good to me.” What a fun way to live!

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