Well, I told you it would happen. I didn’t think it would be literally 3 days later. I thought maybe I could drop my guard, relax a little. Not wise. Ever vigilant we must be.
Hot chocolate powder in the kettle. Katie saw Sim tearing open a packet of hot cocoa and pouring it into the kettle.
“What are you dong?”
“Hot chocolate.”
“Not in the kettle, Sim.”
“That’s how you always make it.”
“I’ve never, not once, made it in the kettle. Ever. The kettle is for water only. Ok?”
“Ok.”
Next morning I felt like I better reinforce this. After all, I thought it was clear when I found oatmeal in the kettle. I though it was always clear that only water goes in the kettle. Nope.
“Sim, what goes in this thing?”
“Water.”
“What about hot cocoa or oatmeal?”
“No. Just water.”
“You sure?”
“Yessssss”
“Ok. Just so we’re all clear” (looking now at the other two) “only water goes in this thing.”
My point? You can try and be as clear as possible. You can have guidelines and systems in place. Everyone can even be fully aware of them and of what’s expected. Don’t worry. It’ll blow up in your face. Guaranteed.
A system is important. More important is forgiveness and patient.
“Blessed are the efficient”?
“Blessed are the organized”?
Not quite.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Take God’s perspective. He couldn’t have been clearer about what he wanted.
“Don’t eat from that tree.”
“Got it.”
“You sure you understand this? It’s very clear. Don’t eat from that tree.”
“Yeah. We got it. All good.”
And . . . nope.
Clarity, systems, procedures are all vital. Without them life is too chaotic and disorganized. But they can and will break down. More important is that we love each other. A system cannot weather the storms of life. Love can endure all things. The Lord of Love endures all things for us. May we do so for each other.
Tom+