The wheels on the bus go round and round…

Until they come off. I love a well-oiled machine. I am sure there are some people who thrive off of problem solving or drama, but I am certainly not one of those people. I am happy when things work as they were intended to work and when people get along as they are supposed to. It irritates me when most people agree on a decision and there is that one person that raises their hand to suggest something different. Please…for the love…just put your hand down. PUT your hand down. I used to be someone who avoided conflict at all costs, even if it cost the relationship. Thankfully, I am not there anymore. However, I do ask myself this question quite often, “Is this worth it?”. Meaning, do I feel strongly enough about this situation that I am willing to throw a wrench into my well-oiled machine? Sometimes, the answer is yes. I hate when the answer is yes. Unfortunately, when I reach this rational decision to throw the wrench in, all rationale goes out the bus’ window. It’s go time. In my head, I never get upset about much at all, so when I do, you better take me seriously. If I don’t think you are taking me seriously enough, well…you WILL.

Thus begins the wheels coming off the bus. It looks something like this. Imagine four wheels literally falling off a moving school bus full of children on the interstate. Horrific. And if this metaphor wasn’t long enough, imagine that the bus driver was the one responsible for unscrewing those nuts and bolts from the wheels. Then getting back on the bus to drive erratically down I95, wishing she could fix everything or save the passengers, or at least herself, but finding no way out. Chances are, if you have been in a relationship long enough, the wheels will come off from time to time. I wish I could put together a three step plan to recover from such an incident, but all I can do is remember that only by His grace am I saved. Jesus is the one who scoops me from the flames and puts my feet on solid ground again. He is the one who makes it possible for the passengers who were forced onto the bus, to forgive me. He is the one who makes it possible for me to forgive them. Without His grace, we would be a bloody pile of bodies scattered along the highway. After a crash like this, there are bound to be some injuries that stick around for a while, but I have learned that a little bit of hope and a lot of grace, go a long way. I think I will take a break from the bus for a little while and give walking a try.

“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2:8–10