I Remember Facing Potential Disaster

article by PAUL LIPE
opinion expressed is that of the writer

I REMEMBER what could have been a frustrating and a potentially devastating occurrence as Mr. Gene Allen, his wife Nancy, and I were headed to Maybank, Texas, to be part of the celebration of the “surprise” marriage proposal which was to be made to our granddaughter, Anna Katherine Lipe.  “AK’s” mother, Mary Linda, is the daughter of the Allens and her father is my son, Jonathan.  This proposal was supposed to be sprung upon an unaware maiden and we grandparents were invited to be part of the excitement.

Because of my age, some in the family think (with substantial reason) that the drive from Delhi to east Texas is more than I can handle and more than they are willing to risk.  Thankfully, the Allens graciously invited me to make the three-hundred-mile jaunt with them in their motor home, a vehicle with all the comforts of one’s abode.  How fortunate can an old grandfather be!?

Everything was going well with good fellowship, delicious snacks, and the coolness produced by the motor home’s air conditioning system.  The latter was especially welcomed because the weather outside was HOT!  We were about 30 miles east of the I-20 Tyler exit when it happened!  The engine in the vehicle, out of the blue, lost most of its “get-up-and-go”.  Even though Mr. Allen pushed the accelerator to the floor, the motor responded only about half way. (And remember, it was HOT).  What should we do? What if the engine shut down completely?  Mr. Allen humorously suggested that Mrs. Nancy and I might have to get out and push!  I was confident that he was teasing, because if I am too old to drive, surely I am too old to push!

We finally got to the Tyler exit, and Mr. Allen pulled off I-20, hoping that we might find a mechanic in that area. He drove into a parking lot and shut the engine down. After a couple of minutes, he observed that the issue could be related to one of the multiple computer systems that controlled the motor home.  When a computer “acts up”, we are told that the first thing we should do is to turn it off, wait a little while,  and then re-boot the rascal.  So, he put that principle into practice, and engine perked up like new. Once again, we realized that God is good!  We experienced no more problems in reaching our destination or on the way home!

As we face the challenges and trials of life, sometimes it seems as if our minds are like the motor home engine: we just “hit a wall” and can’t seem to make any progress.  When that occurs, perhaps we need to “shut off the engine” and shift our focus to the Lord and His grace.  Rather than allowing our lack of strength to frustrate and confound us, we can reflect on how great the Lord is and remember His promise: “My grace is sufficient for you.” (II Corinthians 12:9). Time and again, this approach has worked for me.

I am confident that it will also be effective for anyone who gives it a try.  If, for some reason, you are operating on half-power, try refocusing on the Lord and see if He can’t revive your “motor”.

As we resumed our journey to Maybank, I noticed a little grin on Mrs. Nancy’s face, and I wondered what was going through her mind.  I think I might have figured it out.  It is my belief that, as she reflected on the problem that had just been resolved, this thought came to her mind: “Can I find a key that will allow me to shut Gene off, and then, when it is convenient, I can just re-boot him?”  Should she succeed in such a quest, I suspect that wives everywhere would be willing to invest is such a gadget!