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Hello St. John’s Family,
A quick glimpse around the house reveals all the tell-tale signs: extra loads of laundry in the dryer and clothesbaskets on the counter. Foods and snacks that typically aren’t purchased appear in the pantry. Duffel bags and suitcases are dug out of closets, then inspected by pets with both interest and unease. Preparations have clearly initiated for some time away! This year, our household will combine some vacation time with moving our 2 children in at college… a fact that’s obvious by the condition of the parsonage’s extra bedroom. Which means one of the most contentious times of the year is right around the corner: the packing of the SUV.
According to some sources, it has been alleged that I am not the most enjoyable person to be around when I am packing the car or SUV. Which is surprising (to me), as this is a task I truly excel at. I think most dads will agree that car-packing should be an Olympic sport; the mixture of skill, spatial relations, creativity, and time efficiency – when done well – rival the grace and beauty of any gymnastic routine. No interior space is to be wasted: each bag and item has a specific spot, with the ultimate outcome being a tightly packed blob of beauty. And there are crucial boundaries, mind you - a clear path of vision from the rearview mirror out through the back window must be maintained. Roof racks and tow-hitch carriers can be used in times of necessity, but the outcome must be compact and tidy, with nothing flapping. Anything resembling the Clampett family’s ride to Beverly Hills is an automatic deduction.
Achieving this outcome, apparently, comes at a great cost. I’ve been told that as the process begins, my normal persona morphs into a combination of Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold character and Red Forman (the dad from That 70’s Show who thinks everyone is, to put it kindly, dumb). I guess everyone doesn’t have the vision and drive for perfection that I have when it comes to this essential task. To which I ask: shouldn’t anything worth doing be done the right (which is obviously my) way?
After some years of experience, I’m beginning to see how my quest for the perfectly packed car may not yield the healthiest or most wholesome outcome for our family. It’s interesting how a car with a slightly less than optimal packing job tends to yield more harmony during the many hours we spend together in it. Go figure. Reflection reminds me of how Christ spoke of seeing a speck in a neighbor’s eye while missing a log in our own; packing the car is one of those moments when that wisdom hits a bit too close to home for me.
I also sense packing the car is not the only responsibility where this phenomenon takes place. Sometimes, the responsibilities and acts we value most cause us to hyper-focus, and in the process, we end up alienating those around us who we care about. This can happen anywhere – even in our church family. We don’t want it to happen, yet sometimes, it just does.
Friends, the amazing thing about God is how God’s grace is more than capable of reconciling any disagreement. Even heated disputes over the proper packing of the car are not beyond God’s reconciling power! A deep breath, an apology where needed, and an openness to God’s Spirit can soothe agitated nerves and restore frayed relationships. And while some disagreements require more time and prayer for full restoration than others, God’s grace is more than sufficient to bring restoration.
I hope God’s grace will guide you through any “issues” – packing or otherwise – you may encounter as the summer concludes. Know you’ll be in my prayers over the next few weeks, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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