During the past week, we encountered several surprises. I almost want to scream out, “What is going on?” As the week ended, however, I am glad that everything works out fine. This reminds me of Apostle Paul’s teaching, “all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)”. 🙂 Here let me share with you two of the surprises.

Last Tuesday night, my friend called us from out of the area, asking us to check upon his house for a NO house heat problem. He was informed by his house-sitter that room temperature in his house is abnormally low. In light of coming sub-zero temperature during the night, we stopped by his house immediately after got the key from the house-sitter. After spent time in researching the problem, I was able to restart the pilot fire in the furnace. However, the furnace still wouldn’t re-start. So, we have to call an emergency furnace service in order to minimize the risk of a potential pipe-burst around his house. It was a long night after the service technician finished and the furnace restarted.

Then, on last Thursday late night, we were supposed to pick up a friend at a local train station. Due to a heavy snow storm blanked the area, my friend’s arrival schedule was delayed and as a result, her arrival time was scheduled well after midnight. When it is time, I backed my car out of my garage. Without noticing the heavy accumulation of snow in my driveway, the car quickly came to a screeching halt and there it went into the snow piles. So, I had to get off my car and began to shovel. Suddenly, we discovered that there is no way José for us to make to the train station since all streets were not even plowed yet. Hence, we have to call our friend up and told her that we couldn’t pick her up and she needed to find an alternative means for transportation. Ugrrrr…

This cold and snowy winter in the Northeast region has been a culprit for problems to many house owners. These two surprises I just mentioned are closely related to this bitter cold winter season too. From them, I learn two lessons. One: it is ideal for me to “be prepared”. Two: I have to know my own limitation before helping others.

One of the key issues for my friend’s no house heat problem is his furnace was not regularly maintained, according to the furnace technician. As a result, a blocked vent switch of the furnace was tripped and needs to be replaced. This teaches us the importance of a proper winterizing preparation. The truth is we may be able to get away with no preventive maintenance during good weather but definitely not in a critical weather like this winter.  When we choose a “cutting corners” approach, we must be prepared to bear its consequence in the future.

Spiritually, there is a similarity too. An attitude of “cutting corners” in the journey of faith may end up losing eternal life because Jesus told us that, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 「你們要進窄門。因為引到滅亡，那門是寬的，路是大的，進去的人也多；引到永生，那門是窄的，路是小的，找著的人也少。(Matthew 7:13-14)”

Another lesson I have learned is to know my own limitation. When I was stuck in the snow, I realize that I couldn’t offer any more help to my friend, even though we were so worrying about her safety – the fact is “I am powerless” under that kind of situation. Analogously, if we look at our salvation, it is impossible for us to save anybody from sin because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Bible told us that only the Lamb of God – the sinless Jesus Christ – can provide the path of grace.  

Therefore, my dear friends, it is my prayer that you can learn your limitation and be prepared to accept Jesus as your personal savior.

Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my personal view; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.