Full Power or Not?

As my friend’s email described to me the difficulties of living in the country she is in now, I cringed as she told us what was happening. It seems that standards and equipment are not what they are in Canada. If you have traveled abroad you will understand completely.

It seems that the electrical outlets and light switches are less than what they should be. The one wall switch is broken and there are none available to repair/replace the parts. So when she or her husband enter the room they go over and cross the open and frayed wires to turn on the lights. She said when they touch the two wires there is a flash and a spark – then the lights come on.

I shudder to think what is happening! The bare copper wires make connection and in a flash they are welded together – then when they “turn off” the lights they rip apart the small weld. You lose a little wire each time and the wire grows shorter – putting the flash that much closer to the wall and a potential fire. Oh BOY!

I read of a potential airplane crash and then found the photo of the frayed wires that they think caused the failure. It seems that the wires in their poor condition crossed and the side door on the aircraft flew open and then was ripped off at 300 MPH. Wires frayed – nerves shot and an accident can happen.

Having a good circuit and good equipment is important. It creates a safe environment for people to live in and should be kept that way. Without the regular maintenance and replacement of wires and equipment bad stuff happens.

Too much happening…
In life we can be stretched beyond our ability. Our personal wires can be frayed at times. When that happens things go from bad to worse until someone snaps completely.

Fayed wires in a home’s light switch are one thing but it is even worse if it is someone’s personal life. Bad stuff happens quickly and lives are changed forever.

I met a man that hasn’t spoken to his son for more than 22 years. Something terrible happened and their lives were torn to bits. One blamed the other for what happened. Then there was no more relationship.

I met a lady that was so angry with her spouse. She has vowed that her spouse will never see her children again. She is in kind of a running state of mind – trying to move often so that he will not find them. Yes he did hurt her badly.

I was in a restaurant not long ago because I was hungry. Just before we sat down I spotted some people sitting at a table across the restaurant. In the past they had done things to me that were terrible and said things that were rotten. The sight of them brought back a rush of bad memories. I lost my appetite and wanted to run out. My frayed nerves from long ago were raw again – that old flash took place all over again.

Oh I bet that you thought that Pastors are aloof from that kind of disaster? NOPE – we have problems with it as well. Believe it or not we are human too and bad stuff happens.

Is there any hope…?
The answer is a hearty and healthy – “YES!”

A long time ago in Bethlehem a baby was born. God provided a huge spark, a Star, that shone above that manger scene to lead people to the place where the baby was laying. Yesterday I was reminded again of the wonder of it all as I watched a Christmas pageant put on by our Day School at the church. There in the middle of it all was one large star worn by a little girl.

God brought that light into world of frayed wires/nerves and broken promises. He is all power and at that moment brought us a better way to look to – and accept.

Along with the spectacular Star was a host of God’s power shinning into the lives of the shepherds on that hill side. The words quoted over again and spoken by God’s angels that day were – “Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward men.”

In the world that swirls around me I see broken and torn wires of life. I see the stains and the smudges left by the disasters around these distressed lives.

My prayer today is that you will find the Peace you need, you and your family will find the Goodwill that is so much needed now. Then as God rests in your family setting you all will find health and happiness this Christmas.

God Bless you Today!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~