COINCIDENTAL WISDOM

I'm back. And "Oh, my back!" Yeah, the old back has been put to the test the past month as we made a big move to relocate from Nor Cal back to my childhood home in So Cal. Mom passed away a few years ago and we inherited the family home originally purchased in 1963 and we moved in on the 22nd of November that year (remember that historical week?). The house was built in 1955, a small two-bedroom, one bathroom house. Mom and dad in one bedroom and three boys in the other! A few years later my contractor uncle remodeled the kitchen, added a den and another bedroom for my parents putting it at just over 1500 square feet. In the late 80's they upgraded the kitchen and den.

Because of newly passed California legislation children who inherit homes from parents now have to claim the home as their primary residence within one year, no longer able to rent or postpone living in the home if they wish to also inherit a greatly reduced property tax (that too was sadly changed to about a 600% increase in property tax from what would have been a 1978 property tax assessment). I digress. So since last September we've been having the home completely renovated inside and out. Not to sound too morbid, but my wife and I figure we'll die here and if we live long enough, we wanted to enjoy the home in much better shape than it was (we all have a day, right?).  I’ve seen plenty of other’s “day” in my chaplain work, for sure. 

Of course, the cost of a remodel will always cost more....way more than you think or plan for, right? The other day, I found myself searching and digging for an old jar of coins I buried somewhere in the back yard sometime in 1968 to help! One of the biggest costs was replacing the long narrow driveway which was completely cracked and in bad shape. Our hardscape guy did a beautiful job widening and pouring a new driveway. Did I say it was long? Had to be done but, boy howdy....chuh ching!! Had to be poured one half at a time a week apart and then another week waiting to cure before we could drive and park on it. That day finally came last week. I was so excited to finally use the driveway and park our cars. My hardscape guy wanted to make sure our vehicles didn't leak oil and told us not to turn the wheels sharply on the concrete. No problem. Cars don't leak and we'll take it easy on the wheel turning.

So, the big day came last Wednesday. My truck was so dirty from being neglected during the month of moving. I had to give her a wash. I had an appointment later in the morning with a company that works with first responders suffering from PTSD and addiction. They are very interested in utilizing a chaplain in their program. I didn't want to show up with a dirty truck (how vain!).  I pulled up and washed the truck then got dressed and headed off to my appointment. A few minutes later my daughter, who is visiting for a few weeks, also wanted to pull up the driveway and wash her car after I left.  She called me and said, "Dad, your truck has an oil leak and left a good-sized oil leak on your new concrete." Unbelievable! "No way!" I said, "My truck has never leaked oil. It is a new truck!" I was dumbfounded!

When I got to the appointment, I couldn't resist crawling under my truck to take a look. I was just as worried that something was wrong with my truck. Sure enough, I spotted a drip. I had my oil changed about six weeks ago. I could see it was coming from the oil filter. I reached in and was able to give it a half turn to tighten it. In all my years, I've never had a loose oil filter. What are the odds? Was it a coincidence that after a major expense of getting a brand-new driveway and finally being able to drive on it, my truck has an oil leak?! The first day! The first car! The first ten minutes! Seriously, was that a coincidence?

I couldn't help but let my mind go to the "God is trying to teach you a lesson" indoctrination many of us Christians have had pressed into our mindsets whenever something goes wrong in our lives. I did have to reckon with the rational perspective of it only being concrete. Nobody died. My self-talk…"Nick, it's frick'n concrete! Get a life!" I was so upset about it at first then had to laugh. It was funny, whether a coincidence or God or the universe playing a trick on me. Karma? Does God really work that way? Him, always having to teach us a lesson when we get sideways in our thinking or our obsessions take over or we do "stupid is, stupid does"? I have a hard time believing God is forever tinkering with the life of every human being relentlessly tweaking our circumstances with  some disappointment (silly or serious) or pain or failure to teach us a life lesson.  

I do believe life itself, the set patterns of the realities of our God designed cosmos, living any kind of life will inevitably subject us to crazy, if not unfortunate happenings....some silly, some tragic and everything in between. Most of us get to experience the ecstasies of life as well as the heartaches. Yes, God is there in our midst...somehow. But God is there for us, not against us. He, if we are willing to seek him, will give us the best way to handle the heartaches as well as the oil stains, beginning with wisdom and ending with wisdom. My daughter Googled "how to remove an oil stain on driveway." Dawn Soap, baking soda and kitty litter. Let stand for 12 hours. It worked. How wise!