Broken Strings

Last week I sat on my bed and pulled out my guitar. It is old, given to me from my grandfather and lonely as it lives it's life leaned up against my wall. Can I play guitar? No, I just own in for the random moments I pretend like I will learn. This, was one of those moments.

I began my first attempt in months at trying to tune it and used a small battery operated tuning device. I sat and messed with the strings until the light was green and the dial was in the middle. (this supposedly tells you the string sounds correct-I wouldn't know the difference) I finally made it to the last string. As I turned the knob to wind it tighter, the dial moved slowly toward the middle before the string made an awful sound and broke. I sat there and giggled to myself. This is the story of me and my guitar playing. I may never get around to fixing the string and this really does not help me in my attempt at learning to play. But, I couldn't help but smile anyway at the humor in the situation.

I rather enjoy how little situations in life always seem to apply to a spiritual truth and seem to make them more real. (either that or I just think to much :) This analogy was only too easy. What happens when a string breaks? Well in this case my response was to put the guitar back in it's case and lean it against the wall. I wondered at this point how I respond to all the "broken strings" that come my way.

I did not in this instance respond back at the guitar in anger. This would just be too funny for it was not the guitar that was responsible, but the tuning stylistics of the guitar owner. Besides, what good would anger have done in this situation? And besides I was far to busy laughing at myself thinking of God's sense of humor and wondering what makes Him laugh. This attitude is that of a choice. A choice in looking at situations and choosing joy (or the perfect example of someone who amuses very easily and is extremely self entertained). What about those experiences in life that I let get to me?

So then what about those moments in life I choose to not be joyful? I was thinking about this just the other night after my college group. Tyler had brought up a great point about forgiveness and how it is costly to someone. Many of the circumstances I choose anger it is directed at a person. This is difficult because it is usually based off the fact that somehow I feel "wronged" by that person and feel I deserve different. What a funny selfish attitude. And the worse part is I feed it with anger. Then, I am reminded of Christ and how he gave his life for my sin that I may be forgiven. I think about this quit a bit now as I run my shift and my store and how I treat people who don't do what I say. My immediate feeling is anger or frustration at how dare they. Then I must look at my life and the way I obstinately disobey the Lord and His commands though I know the truth. Now I must say "How dare I!" This has just recently began to help me choose joy in certain circumstances I was finding difficult and is always extremely convicting as well as encouraging.

Life is full of situations that travel many different directions (sort of like this blog) I think sometimes when we are faced with situations or things that don't go like we want we somehow believe God is not there. Since when are "broke strings" outside of God's plan or His sovereignty? (oh, if you could only see my spelling right now you would defiantly fall on your knees and thank the Lord for spellcheck) What good does anger, or frustration or those panic moments do us? Not one ounce of it! (Although it is sometimes fun for those of us who like to practice our drama skills) I think sometimes it is a test to see how we will respond. God talks about that in James and how trials are test to reveal our character. Talk about your humbling moments in life...

It's these trials that range from stubbing your toe to loosing all you have that God uses to change us. It about how we react and respond and whether or not we call on Him or continue to run until He has to chase us down again. Have you ever praised the Lord for stubbing your toe? How about when (Starbucks employees) you burn your hand with 200 degree water or explode a whipped cream all over you and your fellow partners. I wonder what direction our life would go and how if we just realized God has a plan for each and everyone of these as well. I don't want to forget somehow these fit into His plan for my life. I think sometimes I overlook them as just speedbumbs in the road.

So really I guess I am going to really work on focusing my attitude on joy and learning to praise Him for all the things I don't understand and may not want to. And I don't want to ignore these "broken strings" but rather choose to praise Him that He has a plan and remember He promises it is all for my good because I love Him. Because I love music and this song I must leave you with a line from a Caedmon's Call song.

"This days been crazy but everything happened on schedule. From the rain and the snow to the drink that I spilled on my shirt. And you knew how you'd save me before you made me in the garden. You knew this day long before you made me out of dirt..."