Perspective Adjustment

I have been driving up to Miami for major dental work about once per month since May. At first I would spend the night (if the procedure was major) but for the less critical visits, that got a little too expensive. So, now I drive up and back in the same day. I went up this past Tuesday. While I am up on the mainland, I try to do errands and go places we don't have here on the island or even in the Keys. 

My appointment on Tuesday was at 11am so the schedule for the rest of the day included lunch at Chili's (I love me some Chili's and you can only get it in Key West of you are flying out of or into the airport!), shopping at Target, a stop at the bank and then some more shopping at Aldi. I made it to Chili's and had a great lunch. I was excited to head to Target after lunch, but guess what? I had a flat tire. Yup. I had run over some big old bolt in the parking lot! My tire inflation was down top 7 PSI so I had to call AAA. 

Well. It took about two and a half hours to get everything taken care of and I never made it to Target or Aldi (the traffic in Homestead and Florida City was just ridiculous!) Of course, I complained about it all afternoon, evening and even today to anyone who would listen. I felt as deflated as my tire! Poor me!

Then this afternoon, I happened to see a couple of minutes of the news. I saw thousands of people streaming back into Gaza and finding their homes destroyed and their families annihilated. I also saw Israelis waiting for word of whether or not the remains of the their loved ones who were hostages would be returned, and I saw pictures of war ravaged Ukraine and people desperately seeking shelter. All I could picture was my silly tire and my ridiculous reaction to my "first world problems." Shame on me….

So many times our struggles seem overwhelming or unfair or just a nuisance. So often we get caught up in the minutiae of our daily lives and our disappointments that we forget that people's lives, families and countries are literally being obliterated. I'm not writing this to make you feel guilty. I don't feel guilty. But I do feel a renewed sense of what is truly important and it is not a flat tire. We all need to remind one another of the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people." (Jeremiah 9:1) And The Apostle Paul wrote, "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15). And of course, 1 Thessalonians really straightens me out when I am feeling sorry for myself, "....give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

So, starting today I will not complain about this incident again. Instead, I will be thankful that my tire was able to be repaired, I have a AAA membership, I made it home safely and I only have two more dental visits left in Miami!

Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline